This futuristic-looking semi is called the Future Truck 2025. As the typically German, spelled-out name states, the concept represents Mercedes' vision for what autonomous trucking will look like in about a decade's time. It's at the same time absolutely incredible and kind of believable.
Future Trucks
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BulletTruckAirFlow is hoping the BulletTruck will shape the future of trucking. AirFlow is working to design the world’s most functional, aerodynamic truck. This summer, engineers drive the prototype from Connecticut to California.“We loaded in Connecticut and our first stop was in Tracy, California. We ran into 35 mph 3/4 headwinds all the way through Wyoming and 40 mph crosswinds traveling through Utah,” the site states.In spite of the winds, the truck averaged an impressive 13.4 mpg! Peterbilt SentinalThe Peterbilt Sentinel truck concept is the new American dream long base truck. This project aims to deliver an extravagant and elegant truck with a more luxury touch based from simple structures and shapes. It pleases all types of truckers with its luxury chromed lines, massive classic style for the front grill and modular cab. It could soon be real. Man S German truck manufacturer MAN has teamed up with trailer builder Krone to build a futuristic, streamlined semi that could improve the fuel economy and range of long haulers by 25 percent.The Concept S and Aero Liner combo feature an integrated design featuring a smooth and rounded face, a rooftop spoiler closing the gap between tractor and trailer, and an aerodynamic hunchback roof not unlike that of the Toyota Prius.Further wind cheating moves include a tapering rear end, skirts over the wheels, slim video camera mounts replacing the huge side view mirrors typically seen on big rigs, and fuel tanks tucked inside the slick bodywork of the tractor. |
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AirFlow Truck Company It’s not easy to refine the wheel, much less reinvent it. But when we sat down to design and then create a brand new Class 8 tractor trailer rig with advanced aerodynamics, extraordinary fuel savings, and a very low emissions profile, we ended up revolutionizing over the road trucks, again.One of our top priorities, as always, was to obtain the lowest cost-per-mile operating cost. How could we give fleet operators and owners a rig that will substantially reduce fuel and operating costs? The answer is to use advanced 21st. century computer-aided-design aerodynamics, light weight modern materials and assembly, and innovative but practical solutions to common problems. A partial list of these innovative solutions include:
[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/gqv3kDUH-DE” width=”550″]
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Der Mercedes-Benz Future Truck
Its engine develops 330 kW (449 hp) and a maximum torque of 2200 newton metres. Power is transferred by the fully automated 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission, which is standard equipment.Its unusual semitrailer already provides a visual outlook on the near future. Mercedes-Benz presented the Aerodynamics Trailer two years ago, as a world premiere at the International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA). Aerodynamically optimised, it is able to reduce the fuel consumption of the complete semitrailer combination by up to five percent.
World premiere in September at the IAA Commercial Vehicles For demonstration drives on the roads, the Future Truck 2025 is still disguised – it is clad in black-and-white adhesive foil to obscure the exterior contours. In the interior, a protective shroud conceals the cockpit from inquisitive glances. However, additional monitors already give an advance indication that this is the workplace of the combined driver and transport manager in the truck of the future. The new Actros already makes a visual distinction between the driving and living areas. In the future the cab will also include a comfortable and functional working area for autonomous driving phases. It will celebrate its world premiere in September, at the International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA).
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Freightliner Cascadia EvolutionThe Cascadia Evolution features a Detroit DD15 engine that provides some of the most advanced aerodynamic and fuel efficient enhancements in the industry.According to the press release, the engine delivers a 7% improvement in fuel economy over the EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia, equipped with a first generation aerodynamic package and up to 5 percent compared to a current model year 2013 Cascadia equipped with the latest aerodynamic upgrades. “With the Cascadia Evolution, we achieved substantial fuel savings, which benefits our customers and strategically aligns with our global initiative to reduce fuel consumption through product innovation, said Wilfried Achenbach, senior vice president of engineering for Daimler Trucks North America. We continue to reach significant milestones well ahead of the competition,” Freightliner said in a press release. |
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Renault has allways been known for the production of striking and innovating car designs, but this time things have got a whole lot bigger with the new, extravagant, „dream truck”, Radiance. The Reanault’s Corporate Design Department had a simple philosophy which stand at the base of this impressive model: “Drive like a car, work like an office, live as you would at home.”The innovative, modern shape which defies traditional, box-style truck designs, shares obvious design cues, more mainstream siblings and the first thing which strikes you about it is its sleek and aerodynamic. Large air inlets give extra engine cooling, foldaway steps allow easy cabin access but don’t interfere with the truck’s curvaceous lines. To keep the Radiance’s futuristic lines, two exterior cameras are mounted on the cab’s aerofoil which eliminate all blind spots and give superior visibility, while the modern front headlights have a hint of Espace and are multi-directional so that they can be adapted to specific driving conditions, including city, fog and motorway mode |
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Mercedes' 2025 Concept Truck Comes from the Future
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  Concept Trucks | Trucks of Future
uigi Colani is a legendary Swiss German designer. The prime characteristic of his designs are the rounded, organic forms, which he terms “biodynamic” and claims are ergonomically superior to traditional designs. Many of his designs for small appliances are being mass-produced and marketed, but his larger designs have not been built, “a whole host of futuristic concepts that will have us living in pods and driving cars so flat that leg amputation is the only option.”        |
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See the Futuristic Concept Truck Walmart Wants to Use to Maximize Efficiency on the RoadYou’ve never seen a transport truck quite like this.Walmart created a concept truck to maximize efficiency on the road, and the result is something that looks a little more spaceship than tractor-trailer.  They hyper-efficient concept truck may turn a few heads on the highway (YouTube).Walmart Corporate announced the project Feb. 17 during a meeting to report on progress with reaching the company’s sustainability goals.  The view from inside the WAVE cockpit (YouTube). Chris Sultemeier, senior vice president and head of corporate transportation services for Wal-Mart, said the company also has agreed to buy 2,000 hydrogen-fueled forklift trucks for use in its U.S. and Canadian distribution centers, the Transport Times reported.In 2005, Wal-Mart set a goal of doubling the efficiency of its truck fleet by 2015. Sultemeier said the company reached 80% of its goal by purchasing more fuel-efficient trucks and finding ways to ship more goods in less space and using fewer trucks.  The cabin doors move more like a mini-van/DeLorean hybrid than a standard truck (YouTube).The company uploaded a video of the truck on YouTube and described it as the “latest in (their) fleet efficiency program.”
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Futuristic trucks at the IAA 2010 CV Show! Welcome the Iveco Glider on Biglorryblog...Say hello to the future...today...with the super-slippery streamlined Iveco Glider seen at this week's IAA Truck Show in Hanover. And yes when I saw the word 'Glider' I was expecting a Stralis cab with a set a chassis rails and no drivetrain...which just goes to show you shouldn't jump to conclusions! This aerodynamic concept tractor is (and I quote the official PR blurb here) "...the result of a creative journey inspired by nature and developed by Iveco in conjunction with Centro Ricerche Fiat." And Biglorryblog learns that, just like an Eagle soaring and gliding through the heavens the Iveco Glider scoots along the road with the minimum of fuss and more importantly diesel thanks to it's impressively aerodynamic shape and a whole shed-load of high-tech gizmos. So click through here to find out what they are...and believe Biglorryblog when he says that there are some impressively clever bits of kit on it too!So starting from the top how about two square metres of electricity-generating photovoltaic cells smoothly blended into the cab roof? And being moulded to the curved cab roof they are, says Iveco, kept clean by the aerodynamic wind flows "...guaranteeing maximum efficiency and producing up to 2kWh of energy." And all for free too. Seems like truck makers might just be following the lead of those trailer makers like Gray & Adams who are using photovoltaic cells for powering satellite tracking and to top-up for batteries in double deckers...
However, the REALLY interesting bit on the Glider is its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (that's KERS to you) which makes it possible to recover enough energy to power the majority of the truck's auxiliary systems like the air conditioning, air compressor, fuel pumps etc which are all powered by electric motors on the Glider. And in turn that means fuel consumption can be cut by an impressive 5%....Pretty good eh? Ahhh, you say, but how does it work? Well I'm glad you've asked me as here comes the science bit so sit up and pay attention.As you all know, thermo-dynamic laws don't allow an engine to transform all the heat generated by combustion into kinetic energy---as part of it is lost out the exhaust pipe and radiator. However, with the Iveco Glider a large amount of the heat previously lost in the exhaust gases are turned into electricity thanks to a thermo-dynamic system based on the Rankine Cycle---a sort of compact and efficient steam machine. With me so far? A high-efficiency heat exhanger is positioned in the exhaust pipe immediately after the emisssion control system and it is used to pressurise "an organic working fluid" capable of operating a low amibient temperatures. The remaining heat not captured and turned into electrical energy is dissipated thanks to the planar heat exchangers in the truck's side fairings (seen above). There's also a by-pass valve which operates when maximum power is required. Meanwhile on a typical motorway run the heat recovery system can cut fuel consumption by up to 10%---and any excess electricity not used by can be stored in an axuliary energy unit which can be used when the truck is parked up....And while I'm on the subject energy conservation Glider features a complete thermal management system...AKA 'Smart Cooling' with 'Active Shutters' that optimise the cooling drag while the fifth-wheel automatically adjusts the gap between the back of the truck and front of a trailer...And to keep things slippery when the door is closed the steps are faired in---open the door and the hinged infills swing inwards thereby allowing you to place your foot on the step and climb in the cab...shades of the old Scania 4 Series there.... |
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Naturally being a 'Concept Truck' it has to be a bit wacky'! Come on now....And how about this for a seat? Ferrari red leather of course....and inside, well you can see for yourself..or could do if these guys hadn't been so keen to give it the once over Glider certainly attracted a LOT of attention.
There are three distinct functions within the Glider's cab including, 'drive' 'office and 'home' and all sorts of natty bits and bobs include a steering wheel with a fixed centre hub which is able to accommodate plenty of control buttons, a clever space saving bed stowed vertically and a multi-function 'Ariston Ivory' unit built in-conjunction wth Indesit that has just about everything in it from preparing food to washing the dishes! As for yours truly I reckon Glider has something that's 'workable' about it. OK it needs a sensible interior and some of the exterior styling toned down a bit but overall this looks one of the most believable 'future' trucks I've seen in ages. And the energy recovery system is surely something that all truck makers will have to look at over the coming decade. In fact I'd go so far as to say that what you're looking at is the Iveco Stralis for 2020! |
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 Volvo Vision 2020
Volvo’s Vision 2020 is another example of what the truck of the future could look like. Its design incorporates a lower front section that projects forward about half a metre to improve aerodynamics and improve crash protection for other road users in the event of a collision by providing a “crumple zone”.Technological developments could also help to make trucks safer. In May this year the Freight Transport Authority (FTA) launched what it says is the world’s first satnav system with a cyclist alert function.The Pro Nav 420’s HGV Cyclist Alert system warns the driver that they are approaching a section of road that has been designated by TfL as a “HGV/Cyclist convergence area”, and notifies drivers with an audible alert and a map overlay displaying a 50-metre hotspot zone.
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Is this the lorry of the future? With their bluff, towering fronts and seemingly unstoppable might, they are the monoliths of our road network. And although there are differences in the details, most lorries look largely the same. But as these futuristic designs from MAN and Volvo Trucks show, given the chance they could be a lot more interesting – as well as greener and safer at the same time. Why the sudden interest in futuristic trucks? Did you know that the European Union (EU) governs the size and weight of all the lorries and trucks that travel between member countries? The current regulations have been in place since 1996, but now in a drive to improve efficiency and safety, a new EU proposal is set to shake up the rules.Critics fear this will pave the way for much bigger lorries, so-called “mega-trucks” or “gigaliners”. Yet without these changes there seems little hope of significant improvement.
What is the MAN Concept S? The key is in the elongated shape… What influenced the design of the MAN Concept S? The MAN Concept S has a much more streamlined design. This is especially obvious at the front, with the curvy cab (or ‘tractor unit’, as it’s known in the trade) distinctly different to anything we’re currently used to. But the trailer is also far swoopier, with its extended ‘boat tail’ and covered wheels.Strange as it may seem, the shape is actually influenced by dolphins, which slip through the water with minimal effort and maximum grace. How aerodynamic is the MAN Concept S? With the dolphin as a guide, extensive “fluid dynamics” work has arrived at a truck shape that is as slippery through the air as the average family car.In raw aerodynamics terms, this has seen the drag levels – the amount of resistance the shape presents to the air – drop from 0.50Cd to 0.30Cd. A major improvement. Flipper would be proud. How efficient is the MAN Concept S? As a result of all this splashing about, the MAN Concept S is 25% more efficient than a conventional truck design, saving fuel and reducing harmful emissions.The longer trailer could also allow more goods to be carried during the same journey, offering further efficiency and environmental gains. At present, however, the EU proposal would maintain current goods volumes, so the new lorries wouldn’t take advantage of this. Are there any other futuristic truck designs out there? While the MAN Concept S is perhaps the most radical-looking lorry redesign, Volvo Trucks has also been thinking of
The above is the Volvo Concept Truck 2020. Also known as the Volvo Vision 2020, it too dates from 2010 (which probably tells you how fast the EU works), and although Volvo Trucks is a separate company from Volvo Cars, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that it’s aiming to improve safety. How does the Volvo Trucks Vision 2020 improve safety? If you get hit by a current truck, the flat front means there’s really not very much between you and the hard metal stuff – including the engine. Which means getting hit by a truck tends to hurt. A lot.the future: |
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 Peterbilt Sentinel Truck Concept Offers Classic and Elegant Appearance with Quality, Comfort and Functionality
Peterbilt trucks are the most powerful machines in the world with a long history in building and concept trucks. The Peterbilt Sentinel truck concept is the new American dream long base truck. This project aims to deliver extravagant and elegant truck with a more luxury touch based from simple structures and shapes, luxury chromed lines, massive classic style for the front grill and modular cab.For many people the truck has one purpose, to carry out missions of transporting everything from simple things to complex and heavy loads. For truckers and for many people, trucks are more than just tools for transportation, they are symbols, icons and became family members, talking about their trucks just like about good and reliable friends. Truck drivers learn to pay attention for details, for customizations adding chromed parts, paint jobs or just simple stuff to make the truck more like a home. The priority of design was to create a classic proportion, an elegant look that combines the quality, comfort and functionality. Peterbilt Sentinel truck concept offers the possibility for customizations, moving further in time the name of Peterbilt. Designer : Vasilatos Ianis
Tuvie has received “Peterbilt Sentinel Truck Design” from our ‘Submit A Design‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their design/concept for publication. |
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| Futuristic transportation concepts often make their subjects sleek and possibly better looking to a wider audience. The Scania Truck concept from designer Adam Palethorpe uses the “better looks” idea on giant cargo haulers, and the truck-cab concept does in fact come off pretty well. Those heavy, gigantic heavy-duty haulers wouldn’t ever want to go off-road, simply because their weight would get them stuck somewhere or the other, plus navigating a behemoth like that through tough terrains can be very testing. Not so for the Terrain Adventurer long hauler concept from Patrick Clarke, this one would probably enjoy its “off-road” adventure. |
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Scania Concept 18 wheeler spy truck tells all
 This sleek looking Scania Concept diesel-electric hybrid engined 18-wheeler comes with LED wheel covers that notify onlookers (and the company) about the driver’s driving behavior.
 The high tech hubcaps are designed to deter drivers from breaking the law and the real time data feed also checks to see whether they’ve taken their mandatory rest break for safety.
 Traffic laws in different countries are automatically downloaded to the vehicle via the built-in sat-nav, and if a driver breaks the speed limit by even so much as 1 mph, they’ll face a rotating gun turret, pepper spray warning and the wheel cover lights will repeatedly flash red until his ‘lead foot’ eases up and peace is returned to the universe.Tackle the bad image associated with HGVs (noisy, polluting, gas guzzlers etc). Reduce the threatening appearance of the vehicles to other road users. Improve the experience for the driver, and provide practical solutions for the interior space. Improve safety for the driver, and other road users.
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