KIRKLAND, WA – Kenworth and PACCAR, along with DAF Trucks NV, are forming a super team to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SuperTruck II program.

The companies announced their collaboration to join in on the DOE project to develop freight-efficient technologies, this week. Other partners include Eaton, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mississippi State University, and AVL.

The team’s goal is to develop advancements in Class 8 truck aerodynamics, engine, and powertrain efficiencies.

The group is using Kenworth’s flagship truck, the Kenworth T680, in combination with the PACCAR MX engine, with a goal of demonstrating greater than 100% improvement in freight efficiency over an equivalent 2009 product, and also achieving 55% in engine brake thermal efficiency.

“The U.S. DOE SuperTruck II project is an excellent opportunity for Kenworth, the PACCAR Technical Center and DAF engineers, along with our partners, to explore significant modifications to aerodynamic design, while also developing key ways to further enhance the efficiency of the PACCAR MX engine and PACCAR powertrain,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “This is an important program that can produce real-world results to benefit fleets and truck operators with even greater reductions in fuel usage and emissions in the future.”

The DOE is providing $8 million in funding for year one of the project, from a larger fund of $137 million ear-marked to help develop renewable energy and fuel-efficient vehicles. The aim of SuperTruck II is to develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks.

The Kenworth-PACCAR-DAF Trucks team join four other groups already participating in the SuperTruck II project, including Volvo, Cummins, Navistar, and Daimler.

According to the DOE, trucks use about 28 billion gallons of fuel per year. This accounts for approximately 22% of total transportation energy usage.