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Freightliner Meticulous Testing and Advanced Engineering

Advanced Engineering

At Freightliner, we’re designing and testing the trucks of the future today. As we experiment with the next generation of industry-defining technologies, we put them to the test, determining how they perform in real-world situations.

Finding Solutions for a Better Tomorrow

Our trucks set new standards for fuel economy, payload capacity and operational efficiency. We’re listening to our customer council, anticipating more emissions regulation changes, leveraging Daimler's global network and its Advanced Engineering group to build solutions for the problems of tomorrow.

Creating Real-World Prototypes

Our Advanced Engineering group has developed three generations of innovative concept trucks over the past several years: the Revolution Innovation, SuperTruck and the Inspiration, the first licensed autonomous commercial truck to operate on an open public highway in the United States. Each concept vehicle has helped us push our engineers to design and build ever-advancing models that reveal the future of efficient, comfortable and safe driving.

Cascadia Innovation Truck

Our Cascadia Innovation Truck was developed to highlight existing technologies and to reveal what customers can expect from Freightliner in the near future. The truck featured the most advanced technologies from our development labs, including the following:

As part of our ongoing research and development, we’re already engineering the next generation of Innovation Truck. Pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology is all part of our ongoing effort to shape the future of transportation.

Customer Collaboration

Recently, we collaborated with Walmart to build the first-ever hybrid-electric Freightliner Cascadia. This truck marked the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between DTNA and Walmart to develop innovative, green technologies.

Walmart’s spec’d truck, a 72-inch, raised-roof Detroit® DD15®-equipped Cascadia, features a parallel-hybrid system based on an electrically driven second-drive axle. The system uses advanced lithium ion-based energy storage and electronic control algorithms developed in collaboration with the Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center in Japan.

With this advanced hybrid technology, the conventional drivetrain remains completely intact, allowing for excellent system reliability from the very beginning. Initial assessments of fuel efficiency further indicate the potential for this technology. 

Freightliner has always been dedicated to developing the industry’s most efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies. One powerful example of this approach is our wind-tunnel testing facility, which advances the aerodynamics of every design. This Cascadia marks the next evolution in hybrid-electric solutions for heavy-duty vehicles. Our customers look to us for advanced solutions in every application, and at every turn, we deliver.

Walmart wanted to develop technologies that would improve the efficiency and lessen the environmental impact of their operations. With these partnerships, we can create proofs of concept for applicable technologies and speed up their time to market.

This new, advanced-engineering partnership with Walmart highlights our commitment to green technologies as well as our desire to work closely with core customers to continue developing alternative fuel vehicles.