Innovative tractor Starship moved America with record low flow

Announced the results of a transcontinental truck run of Starship

The Shell group and firm AirFlow Truck Company announced the successful completion of prototype run of innovative truck Starship ("Starship") between the two coasts of the US. Due to application of high technologies in the field of aerodynamics and engineering advances in weight reduction, the creators of the Starship managed to achieve record low fuel consumption – 26.3 l/100 km, which sets a new standard for efficiency of transportation. 

During the tests the truck Starship traveled more than 3,700 miles from San Diego California to Jacksonville Florida in a live environment. The total mass of the road train with cargo was more than 33 tons, and a payload of 18.1 per ton.

In the end, the average fuel consumption of the truck Starship was 3.8 km/l, which was the world record efficiency for trucks of this class. These results were recorded with the help of technical equipment provided by the North American Council for freight efficiency (North American Council for Freight Efficiency).

Head of innovation technologies division of lubricants, shell (Shell Lubricants) Robert Manwaring said: "We are proud of the performance of the truck Starship, committed a run from coast to coast in real conditions. Having successfully implemented this project, we set new standards for fuel efficiency that exist in the field of transportation. We plan in the future to continue to cooperate with the AirFlow Truck Company".

Such an impressive result would not have been possible without all the aerodynamic design of truck and special technical "stuffing". Engineers from the AirFlow Truck Company has developed a unique cockpit and side skirts a trailer out of carbon fiber. Also on the tractor Starship were given a special economical engine Cummins X-15 and special tires with reduced rolling resistance, which, of course, also helped to achieve this ambitious target fuel economy.

The truck engine was used fully synthetic engine oil Shell Rotella® T6 Ultra 5W-30 c low dynamic viscosity, specially designed for heavy-duty engines and meets API category FA-4. It provides high protection against wear, formation of deposits and destruction of the lubricant film. Also used gear oil for the differential and oil for the hubs Shell. The oil used in the engine of a Starship made from the same technology and has the same viscosity as the oil Shell Rimula Ultra E, recently presented at bauma STT-2018.