Walmart's WAVE Is The Aerodynamic Big Rig Of The Future

In February Walmart unveiled what its dubbed the WAVE (Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience) concept truck as part of a broader push to incorporate sustainability into the megastore’s operations. According to the company statement, the truck will be 20 percent more aerodynamic than the current fleet and will use a “micro-turbine hybrid powertrain” than can run on diesel, natural gas, biodiesel and “probably other fuels still to be developed.” “I share it because it gives you a sense of how sustainability is helping us see things in new ways,” wrote Doug McMillon, President & CEO of Walmart. Of course, economics also help Walmart see things in new ways, and with a fleet of over 6,000 trucks, switching to something like the WAVE could save Walmart a lot of money. While Walmart hasn’t released any fuel consumption figures, the WAVE’s trailer is made out of carbon fiber — the first of its kind — which reduced the weight of the big rig by 4,000 pounds per vehicle. The 53-foot one-piece side panels along with other aerodynamic innovations will certainly help increase the truck’s efficiency above the standard 5.5 to 6.5 MPG that semis get. If the changes were able to bring the truck above 10 MPG, cost savings could add up to $25,000 or more per 120,000 miles, depending on diesel prices, according to Gas2.org. In the prototype, the driver sits racecar-style in the center of the cabin allowing for a more aerodynamic design. LCD panels line the dash and there’s a full-size sleeper cabin in the back. Unfortunately for the future, the WAVE is unlikely to hit the road anytime soon. However Walmart still has plans to double its fleet efficiency by 2015. The company plans to add over 1,000 new tractors that are 12 percent more efficient than existing vehicles this year — a move projected to save over $40 million. (thinkprogress.)