Kenworth has announced that it will participate in the Department of Energy’s SuperTruck II program, collaborating closely with the Paccar Technical Center and DAF Trucks, a subsidiary of Paccar, to develop fuel efficient technologies.

The company’s focus is on developing advancements in Class 8 truck aerodynamics, engine, and powertrain efficiencies with $8 million in year-one funding, provided by the Vehicle Technologies Office of the DOE. Other participants include Eaton, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mississippi State University, and AVL.

The project will center around Kenworth’s flagship on-highway model T680 with the 76-inch sleeper and the fuel-efficient Paccar MX engine. The project’s target goals include the demonstration of greater than 100% improvement in freight efficiency over 2009 equivalent product and achieving 55% in engine brake thermal efficiency.

“The U.S. DOE SuperTruck II project is an excellent opportunity for Kenworth, the Paccar Technical Center, and DAF engineers, along with our partners, to explore significant modifications to aerodynamic design, while also developing key ways to further enhance the efficiency of the Paccar MX engine and Paccar powertrain,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president. “This is an important program that can produce real-world results to benefit fleets and truck operators with even greater reductions in fuel usage and emissions in the future.”

Paccar joins teams from Cummins, Daimler Trucks North America, Navistar, and Volvo, in the SuperTruck II program, working to develop innovative technologies designed to more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks. Up to $12 million in additional funding could be awarded for the Kenworth T680 and Paccar MX engine project over the next three years, subject to annual appropriations by Congress.

Kenworth sister company Peterbilt participated in the original SuperTruck program in a joint effort with Cummins, which debuted its vehicle in 2014, achieving 10.7 miles per gallon.