Shell
Shell Starship 3 0 Lower Side 65267f8717c82

3rd-gen Shell Starship posts big efficiency, emissions gains

Oct. 11, 2023
The demonstration run took the fully loaded rig, powered by a Cummins X15N engine and fueled with renewable natural gas, and posted 2.5 times the freight-ton efficiency compared to diesel on an 840-mile loop through California.

Shell's third-generation Starship truck, equipped with a Cummins X15N natural gas engine and powered by renewable natural gas (RNG), completed an 840-mile loop throughout California. According to Shell, the truck achieved improvements over the U.S. average for diesel Class 8 trucks with 2.542 times better freight ton efficiency (FTE) assessed on a ton-miles per gallon basis and 3.23 times better FTE assessed on a ton-miles per kg of CO2e emitted basis.

"Shell Starship 3.0 demonstrates the power of innovation by incorporating a new natural gas engine complimented by today's available technologies to help reduce emissions in the road transport industry," said Dr. Selda Gunsel, president of Shell Global Solutions and VP of fuels and lubricants technology. "Industry collaboration is critical in helping fleets achieve their sustainability goals."

See also: Working together for the environment and profit

The truck also included components and features that promote lightweighting, low aerodynamic drag, and low rolling resistance tires. It operated using a low-viscosity Shell Rotella natural gas engine oil and Shell Spirax transmission and axle oils.

"Each Starship generation shows our current and future customers that we are leading the effort to empower fleets with real-world data that will help guide their decisions to help reduce emissions," Tom Mueller, GM of Shell commercial road transport lubricants, said. "Shell Starship is a proving ground of how working together across the industry can lead the way to more sustainable solutions."

Since its start in 2018, the Starship initiative has showcased that innovation and collaboration through the development of new technologies and fuels can help reduce emissions in the transportation sector. This truck version included partnerships with Cummins for the driveline technology, Bridgestone for tires, and Trillium (part of Love's family of companies) for renewable natural gas.  

About the Author

FleetOwner Staff

Our Editorial Team

Kevin Jones, Editorial Director, Commercial Vehicle Group

Josh Fisher, Editor-in-Chief

Jade Brasher, Senior Editor

Jeremy Wolfe, Editor

Jenna Hume, Digital Editor

Eric Van Egeren, Art Director

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Unlock proven strategies to streamline operations, lead your team, and keep your eet moving forward – all in one guide.
Commercial fleets bear a heavy burden from economic uncertainty, operational costs, and litigation risks. In-cabin video technology offers opportunities to reduce fleet expenses...
Discover how fleet management solutions promote safer student transportation. Download our guide and learn how to improve driver behavior, help prevent incidents and choose a ...
Help drivers improve habits with tools that actually change behavior. This guide shows how Geotab Vitality helps fleets coach with data, reward improvement and build better habits...