{"id":12285,"date":"2021-09-06T16:59:51","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T14:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=12285"},"modified":"2021-09-06T16:59:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T14:59:51","slug":"shell-starship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/09\/06\/shell-starship\/","title":{"rendered":"Shell Starship 2.0 propels fuel efficiency to greater heights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shell Starship 2.0 is making its public debut at the ACT Expo in Long Beach, California, and though it looks the same as the previous version, under the aerodynamic veneer it’s all new.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Shell <\/a> Lubricant Solutions <\/a>launched its first Starship tractor-trailer in 2018<\/a> to showcase all the available components and lubricants a truck can employ to become \u201chyper-fuel efficient,\u201d the team knew with a little more time, they could make it even better. As is, the Class 8 truck with a bullet train husk achieved a freight-ton efficiency of 178.4 ton-miles per gallon, 2.48 times better than the North American average.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cActually, there was lots of stuff left on the table,\u201d recalled Robert Mainwaring, Shell Lubricants\u2019 technology manager for innovation. \u201cThe hurry that we had to make with Starship to get it on display meant some things were unfinished\u2014and those things had a lot of promise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mainwaring said that promise is now fully realized with the revelation of the Shell Starship 2.0 tractor-trailer, appearing publicly for the first time at the ACT Expo in Long Beach California. And the Shell team has had plenty of time to prepare.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRather, ironically, because of COVID, we’ve had a whole year to refine all of those things, so whatever we ended up with now is quite genuinely the best thing we can be with the given reasonable time and available technologies,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan Manthiri, Starship 2.0 project leader, said the foundations for the new truck revolved around \u201creducing opposing forces, improving the driveline and powertrain efficiency, and encouraging a steady driving style.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The carbon fiber body remained mostly unchanged, with the exception of changing the grille system and the addition of Truck Labs TruckWings<\/a> automatic gap closure device, which activates at highway speeds. Durable side skirts and custom boat tails on the trailer continue to smoothly direct air and slice through the wind. On top of the trailer, a 5,000-w array of solar panels generate additional power to the 12-v main battery bank and hydraulic landing gear battery pack.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Credit: Shell<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Starship<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The chassis was swapped from a lighter-weight 2015 International ProStar to a 2021 LT. The 6×2 configuration also reduces weight and friction. Manthiri noted that a differential adds 300 lb., and because a 6×4 has two, that weight is now stripped off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the hood, the most notable difference is the 2020 Cummins X15<\/a> (EX Efficiency Series; 400-hp; 1,850 ft.-lbs. torque) mated to the Eaton Cummins Endurant 12-speed transmission<\/a>. The original was a 2015 prototype engine.<\/span><\/p>\n

The newer version launched in late 2019<\/a> featured tweaks to the water pump speed to reduce parasitic losses and better air handling in the turbocharger for example. Overall, this Eaton Cummins powertrain improved fuel efficiency by 5% over the previous version.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the road, the powertrain offers GPS-enabled functions to help drivers remain in the optimal gear ascending hills through predictive gear-shifting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sync between the engine and the gearbox is much, much tighter than it was before,\u201d Mainwaring said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low rolling resistant tires<\/a> have also made incremental improvements that Shell has exploited, this time around choosing Michelin\u2019s X Line Energy Z tires (steer) and X ONE Line Energy D tires (drive) on the truck, and Michelin X One Line Energy T tires on the trailer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe tires were basically chosen not only for their low rolling resistance but to reduce the overall weight and because of the high durability of these tires,\u201d Manthiri said. \u201cThey\u2019re Load H range tires, so they’re set up to actually take the increased capacity because we’re trying to maximize the potential on Starship. The axles have to be able to take the increased weight, and in order to put that down the ties have to be able to carry that load.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mainwaring also noted the new harnessing system allows the electronics systems to \u201call work in concert\u201d as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

And with lower viscosity, more fuel efficiency gains may be possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, these components are all external to Shell Lubricants\u2019 actual business. The company has also included five of its lubricant products to improve efficiency and reduce friction and wear. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n