Volvo Gets $19 Million from DOE for ‘SuperTruck’ Technology

Volvo Trucks North America said Monday it will receive $19 million in federal funding to develop technologies to improve the efficiency of heavy-duty trucks.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “SuperTruck” program, Volvo Group’s North American truck operations, which consist of Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks and Volvo Powertrain, will develop technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in freight transportation

Two areas that hold great promise for Class 8 efficiency gains are improved truck aerodynamics and energy conversion efficiency, the company said.

Peter Karlsten, Volvo Powertrain president and senior vice president of technology for the Volvo Group, said in a statement that the public-partnership “will help drive the development of technologies needed to maximize energy efficiency as we address the reality of a finite supply of petroleum-based resources.”