Freightliner Trucks has introduced the 2014 Cascadia Evolution Class 8 truck model. Powered by Detroit and featuring some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancements in the industry, the Cascadia Evolution delivers up to an additional 7 percent improvement in fuel economy over an EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia equipped with a first generation aerodynamic package and up to a 5 percent improvement compared to a current model year 2013 Cascadia equipped with the latest aerodynamic upgrades.
"With the introduction of the Cascadia and Detroit DD15 in 2007, our priority was to help customers lower their total cost of ownership through improved fuel efficiency and performance," said David Hames, general manager, marketing and strategy for Daimler Trucks North America. "The Cascadia and the DD15 have since made a powerful impression on businesses."
"Now, with the Cascadia Evolution, we are building upon our commitment to maximizing our customers' bottom lines with new product advancements that will deliver unprecedented fuel efficiency," Hames added.
The optimized aerodynamic features on the new Cascadia Evolution were developed using Daimler Trucks North America's proprietary, state-of-the-art wind tunnel – the only full-scale, OEM owned and operated wind tunnel for big rigs in North America. In addition, the truck was extensively tested on highways throughout the United States, and underwent almost three million miles in combined reliability and fuel economy testing.
Achievements in Aerodynamics
With new, standard features that seamlessly combine the Cascadia's already sleek profile with enhanced aerodynamics, the Cascadia Evolution incorporates several frontal area updates designed to improve airflow and aerodynamics including a new air dam, bumper closure and a hood-to-bumper fill.
The Cascadia Evolution also includes an improved windshield seal, elliptical-shaped aerodynamic mirrors and an integrated antenna. New wheel covers on the rear tandem axles, chassis side fairings and 20-inch side extenders further contribute to the truck's efficiency.
Cooling enhancements include a 1,400 square-inch radiator, which features a revised baffling system and new radiator mounting design that contribute to improved cooling capacity and increased durability.
Also standard with the Cascadia Evolution is Freightliner's proprietary Run Smart Predictive Cruise system. This innovative technology evaluates the road profile more than one mile in advance, determines the most efficient vehicle speed, and then adjusts the actual speed of the truck for maximum fuel efficiency.
"We examined every detail to ensure that no stone was left unturned when developing the Cascadia Evolution," said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. "The result is a truck that will immediately benefit fuel economy performance and overall cost of ownership."
The Detroit Difference
Available only in the Cascadia Evolution, the newly designed DD15 engine features a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger with a next-generation amplified common rail system (ACRS). The asymmetric turbocharger is less complex than variable geometry turbos and, because it is proprietary, is optimally matched to the DD15's EGR system for best real world fuel consumption, resulting in excellent performance. The next-generation ACRS also delivers higher injection pressure for better combustion control and a simplified design for optimal regenerations.
The enhanced DD15 is more than 100 lbs. lighter than its predecessor and includes an improved fuel filter module with two filters that deliver lower maintenance costs with an industry-leading 100,000 mile filter change interval. The engine also features a variable speed water pump that allows for lower impeller speeds, resulting in less parasitic load, improved DDEC electronics for better engine and aftertreatment system management and an optimized piston design for less friction and oil consumption.
Further adding to the overall performance of the Cascadia Evolution, the DD15's BlueTec emissions technology 1-Box package has been optimized to decrease size, weight and complexity.
"Detroit is once again challenging the norm by exceeding expectations and optimizing performance," said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing, Daimler Trucks North America. "We're changing the way the industry looks at diesel engines."
The Detroit Virtual Technician system – standard on the Cascadia Evolution – helps reduce downtime and decrease maintenance costs by providing real-time engine diagnostics, enabling drivers and fleet managers to quickly and accurately evaluate events, and in many cases allowing them to remain driving when others would have to stop to evaluate the event. It also minimizes time in the shop by almost eliminating the diagnostic time since it is completed when the truck arrives by the Detroit customer support center.
"Powered by a Detroit engine and advanced technology, the Cascadia Evolution is a formidable business tool that doesn't sacrifice power for efficiency," said Reed.
Leading the Green Evolution
The Cascadia Evolution is Freightliner's most recent addition to its line-up of fully compliant GHG14 vehicles.
In February 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified DTNA's complete portfolio of model year 2013 on-highway, vocational and medium-duty vehicles as fully compliant with the new GHG14 regulations. DTNA is the first and only North American commercial vehicle manufacturer to be certified as GHG14 compliant.
DTNA's commitment to green technologies is part of parent company Daimler AG's global "Shaping Future Transportation" initiative. The initiative is focused on reducing criteria pollutants, carbon dioxide and fuel consumption through the utilization of clean, efficient drive systems and alternative fuels.
Freightliner Trucks will start production on the Cascadia Evolution in 2013.
Fuel Efficiency Capabilities with the Cascadia Evolution
Freightliner Trucks announced that the new 2014 Cascadia Evolution powered only by the newly designed Detroit DD15 engine and featuring enhanced aerodynamic specs delivered an impressive 10.67 miles per gallon. The enhanced Cascadia Evolution was tested prior to accompanying the cross-country Evolution of Efficiency Tour.
The 2014 production model Cascadia Evolution already has some of the most advanced achievements in the industry designed to improve airflow and aerodynamics. The optimally spec'd Cascadia Evolution was equipped with fuel squeezing options, including the Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission with wide-base tires, a 6x2 drivetrain configuration, and Daimler-designed aerodynamic trailer enhancements which were included to represent the current state of trailer aerodynamics available in the aftermarket.
"The optimally spec'd Cascadia Evolution truly showcases the depth of our aerodynamic and powertrain solutions," said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. "We are excited about what these significant fuel savings results can mean for our customers, and towards our overall objective of lowering cost of operation and improving our customers' bottom lines."
The optimally spec'd Cascadia Evolution was tested at the Continental Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas. There, the truck traveled the 8.5 mile closed-course track for 1,000 miles nonstop at an average speed of 60 mph, with a GCW of 76,000 lbs. Fuel consumption and distance traveled were measured at the end of the demonstration by Automotive Testing and Development Services (ATDS), an independent, third-party auditor using high-accuracy fuel flow meters.
"The closed-track demonstration enabled us to eliminate interfering elements of a typical on-highway fuel economy test such as traffic, construction and speed variations," said Al Pearson, chief engineer, Product Validation Engineering for Daimler Trucks North America. "The use of a closed test track allows us to demonstrate pure fuel economy potential with ambient weather conditions being the only uncontrollable factor."
On the Evolution of Efficiency cross-country tour, which ran 2,400 miles from San Diego, CA., to Gastonia, NC., the optimally spec'd Cascadia Evolution achieved 9.31 miles per gallon and was operated at a GCW of 76,000 lbs. at a cruise speed of 62 miles per hour. Fuel consumption and distance traveled were again documented by ATDS.
"DTNA allocates a major part of our engineering research, design and testing resources solely to fuel economy improvement projects. We conduct all of our final fuel economy validations of new product features using enhanced, over-the-road testing to better predict what our customers will experience," said Pearson. "The coupling of this with closed-track testing helps us understand the maximum range of benefits a package will provide. The Evolution of Efficiency Tour and accompanying closed track demonstration are a great example of our rigorous approach to fuel economy validation."
