Eaton announced that it is contributing several components to truck manufacturers participating in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s SuperTruck II program.

SuperTruck II is a partnership between the DOE, truck manufacturers and equipment suppliers. SuperTruck II is a continuation of the DOE’s SuperTruck initiative, which launched in 2010 with the goal to improve heavy-duty truck freight efficiency by 50%. The long-term objective of the project is to develop technology that can lead to cleaner, more efficient heavy-duty trucks, which haul 80% of goods in the United States and use about 28 billion gallons of fuel per year, accounting for around 22% of total transportation energy usage. The $100 million program is funded by the Vehicle Technologies Office of the U.S. DOE and industry partners.

Eaton’s contributions include a high-efficiency transmission that achieves additional fuel savings by enabling engine-off coasting and waste heat recovery; a 48-volt mild hybrid electrically regenerative accessory drive (pictured above) that charges the vehicle’s batteries, efficiently runs the air conditioner and other accessories, and replaces the alternator in linehaul commercial vehicles; and precise exhaust gas recirculation controllers that enable simultaneous fuel and emissions reductions.

“This is a great opportunity for Eaton technologies to contribute to a program focused on improving the efficiency of commercial vehicles,” said Dr. Mihai Dorobantu, director of technology planning and government affairs for Eaton’s Vehicle Group. “We’re excited to work with several OEMs involved in SuperTruck II as we strive for a common goal of cleaner, more fuel-efficient commercial vehicles.”