Shell prepares Starship 3.0 for launch

Shell Lubricants has completed the second phase of its Star­ship heavy truck fuel-saving pro­gramme in North America, and is about to switch from diesel to gas power as it launches phase 3, having already recorded ob­served fuel/freight-ton/mile fig­ures exceeding three times the US industry average on fully-freighted cross-country drives.

Starship 2.0 is a custom-built Class 8 truck featuring integrated truck and trailer aerodynamics, in­cluding retractable fairings bridg­ing the gap between the trailer bulkhead and the cab’s back at highway speed, plus an aerody­namic trailer boat tail.

Other aerodynamic aids include Meredith Effect engine-compart­ment hot-air extractors behind the tractor steer-axle, ground-hugging side-skirts, and a Stoneridge cam­era system in place of rear-view mirrors.

More fuel is saved by low-ener­gy tyres, lightweight carbonfibre cab bodywork, and trailer roof so­lar panels augmenting the truck’s alternator.

Driveline on Starship 2.0 is a Cummins X15 Efficiency Series diesel engine, Eaton Endurant 12-speed automated transmis­sion, and a Meritor Fuelite Plus drive axle. Fuel-saving Shell lubri­cants are used throughout.

Starship 3.0 will see the diesel engine displaced by a new Cum­mins X15N natural gas engine, and the results will focus on ton/ miles shifted against CO2 output rather than fuel consumed.

Tom Mueller, global gener­al manager commercial road transport lubricants at Shell, said: “Shell Global Lubricants is pleased to move forward with the development of Shell Starship 3.0 which will feature the Cummins 15L natural gas internal combus­tion engine, in an innovative truck design. The updated Starship will integrate a best-in-class aerody­namic cab, trailer and tyres, with an efficient powertrain and drive­line, powered by Shell Renewable Natural Gas and Shell Rotella low-friction lubricants.”