Walmart unveiled a new concept truck, the Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience (WAVE), featuring lead- ing edge aerodynamics, an advanced turbine-powered range extending series hybrid powertrain, electrified auxiliary omponents and sophisticated control systems at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
In 2005, Bentonville, Arkansas- based Walmart, one of the nation’s largest private fleet operators, announced its goal to double fleet efficiency by 2015. As of last year, the company had achieved an 84 percent improvement in fleet efficiency over its 2005 baseline.
“Walmart is continually looking for innovative ways to increase our efficiencies and reduce our fleet’s emissions,” said Tracy Rosser, senior vice president of transportation at Walmart. “The Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience is a bold step in transportation technologies that, although not on the road in its current form, will serve as a learning platform for the future that will accelerate our progress toward our goals.”
The truck’s shape represents a 20 percent reduction in aerodynamic drag over Walmart’s current Peterbilt Model 386. By placing the cab over the engine, the truck’s wheelbase is greatly shortened, resulting in reduced weight and better maneuverability.
The vehicle’s trailer, manufactured by Great Dane Trailers, is built almost exclusively with carbon fiber, saving nearly 4,000 pounds compared to tra- ditional designs. Other special features of the trailer include low-amperage LED lighting strips, composite trailer skirts, aerodynamic disc wheel coverings, a Posi-lift suspension and a one-piece, fiberglass-reinforced floor panel with a 16,000 pound forklift rating.
“The creation of this showcase vehicle was only made possible through strong collaboration with our partners, and we thank each of them for their valuable contribution,” said Rosser. “It’s important that we continue to work collectively on future innovations and challenge ourselves to look boldly at fleet efficiency in new and different ways.”
