New Daimler Supertruck boasts incredible 115% mpg improvement

Getting major fuel economy gains from semi trucks isn't easy. The big rigs have to be able to cover thousands of miles reliably all over the country while hauling tons of weight. Still in 2010, the Department of Energy began the Supertruck program to challenge companies to boost efficiency by 50 percent from 2009 levels. Other trucks already beat that goal, but the recently unveiled entry from Daimler Trucks North America's Supertruck smashed right through it.

Daimler's Supertruck gets an average of 12.2 miles per gallon, which might not sound like the pinnacle of efficiency at first, but beats the DOE goal by a massive 115 percent. That number is also verified through several tests, including a 312-mile round trip on Texas Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Dallas at an average of 65 mph.

The Daimler Supertruck looks somewhat similar a regular semi initially, but it's far more aerodynamically slippery with an arching hood and faired wheels. The gains come in part from a 10.7-liter engine with 390 horsepower and 1,400 pound-feet torque with controls that use 3D maps to maximize efficiency. The company also evaluated tech like putting solar panels on top of the trailer and active aero parts, but not all of them were found to be commercially viable.

Daimler is bringing some of these innovations to its production models, and Freightliner is showing off the Supertruck in full at the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show. You can learn even more about the innovative tech at the company's site about the truck.