U.S-based truck manufacturer International has unveiled a vehicle called Super Truck II Prototype Semi, a part-electric semi complete with an aerodynamic trailer and solar panels.
The manufacturer claims the semi is three times as energy-efficient as the traditional designs with a fuel economy of 16 MPG (14.7 liters per 100 kilometers). An average long-haul truck tends to consume between 35 and 45 liters per 100 km, which corresponds to 5.2-6.7 MPG.
The only thing revealed about the drivetrain so far is that it consists of a diesel engine and an unspecified number of electric motors. All details are being kept secret. We do know that the trailer part is made of compounds and features low-slung skirts over the wheels to minimize drag. The tail-end is tapered for efficiency. A solay cell array mounted at the top supplies up to 6.7 kW of electricity in clear weather.