The Briefing Room

General Category => National/Breaking News => Topic started by: Rapunzel on February 19, 2014, 04:35:04 am

Title: See the Futuristic Concept Truck Walmart Wants to Use to Maximize Efficiency on the Road
Post by: Rapunzel on February 19, 2014, 04:35:04 am

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/18/see-the-futuristic-concept-truck-walmart-wants-to-use-to-maximize-efficiency-on-the-road/

See the Futuristic Concept Truck Walmart Wants to Use to Maximize Efficiency on the Road
Feb. 18, 2014 6:00pm Elizabeth Kreft   

You’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.
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(http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-18-at-8.52.33-AM-620x421.png)

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.


(http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-18-at-5.19.21-PM-620x364.png)

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.

(http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-18-at-5.37.53-PM-620x351.png)

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.”

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTTgxqZqTaA
Check out their WAVE vehicle here:

And just to add a little more fun to the mix, let’s put that carbon fiber switch in perspective. Check out this video that explains the different tensile strengths of steel versus carbon fiber.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjErH4_1fks

Follow Elizabeth Kreft (@elizabethakreft) on Twitter.

Title: Re: See the Futuristic Concept Truck Walmart Wants to Use to Maximize Efficiency on the Road
Post by: Oceander on February 19, 2014, 04:43:01 am

I think I've seen concept semis like this before.  Be interesting to see if anyone could actually push one into production.

Title: Re: See the Futuristic Concept Truck Walmart Wants to Use to Maximize Efficiency on the Road
Post by: Chieftain on February 19, 2014, 04:48:31 am

And what is it fueled with??

That's right...diesel.