Shell Starship 3.0 Demonstrates Efficiency and Carbon Reduction in Commercial Road Transport
Shell Starship 3.0 Hits the Road Again to Showcase Efficiency and Carbon Reduction in Commercial Transport
After a successful demonstration run on the U.S. West Coast in fall 2023, Shell Starship 3.0 is back on the road to showcase the possibilities for efficiency and carbon reduction in commercial road transport. The truck, equipped with a Cummins X15N natural gas engine powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), is currently on a route throughout North Carolina.
During this run, performance data will be collected to demonstrate the CO2 reduction and freight ton efficiency (FTE) capabilities of Shell Starship 3.0. The results will be third-party monitored and verified by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), as has been done with all previous Starship demonstration runs.
“The Shell Starship initiative continues to provide guidance on ways that advanced, currently available technologies can offer road transport efficiencies to fleets and drivers,” said Tom Mueller, General Manager of Shell Commercial Road Transport Lubricants. “Gathering additional performance data with the natural gas engine-powered Starship will build on the previous run and provide us more information to share with fleets about how they can reduce their energy usage and carbon emissions without losing focus on the cost of their operations.”
Shell Starship 3.0 will kick off a nationwide tour starting at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, Nev. from May 20 to 23. The truck will participate in the vehicle demonstration ride portion of the show, focusing on advanced clean vehicles and technology. The tour will continue with stops at Shell Rotella SuperRigs at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, and visits to key Shell partners and customers throughout the U.S. before concluding in California.
Brothers Brian and Eric Rector will once again serve as tandem drivers for Shell Starship 3.0, sharing updates from their experiences on the road on various Shell and Shell Rotella social media channels.
Shell Starship 3.0 incorporates components and features that promote lightweighting, low aerodynamic drag, and low rolling resistance Bridgestone tires. The truck operates using low-viscosity Shell Rotella natural gas engine oil and Shell Spirax transmission and axle oils, providing the protection, efficiency, and performance needed in harsh operating environments.
The Cummins X15N natural gas engine powered by CNG or RNG emits less CO2 than a diesel engine, showcasing the potential for different engine and fuel options to reduce emissions for fleets. Renewable Natural gas, derived from organic waste, is interchangeable with CNG and LNG in transport vehicles.
Shell Starship 3.0 demonstrates the available efficient technologies and innovative spirit needed to meet carbon reduction goals and drive progress in the industry. Collaboration among industry stakeholders is crucial to help fleets achieve their efficiency goals.
In other news, Roadrunner has been recognized with the 2023 Platinum LTL Carrier Award from Echo Global Logistics for outstanding service, commitment, and performance. The award highlights Roadrunner’s impressive on-time performance and growth in a challenging marketplace, as well as improvements in various service metrics. Roadrunner’s strategic enhancements, including Guaranteed Service in select lanes and the opening of a new service center in Atlanta, have contributed to this recognition.