How Shell’s Starship 3.0 NG paves the way for lower-carbon fleets operating natural gas powertrains
Equipped with a natural gas engine, aerodynamic design and application of low viscosity lubricants, see how the third iteration of Shell’s Starship Initiative could help shape a potential pathway to a lower-carbon future for natural gas powertrains.
Since 2018, the Shell Starship Initiative has aimed to demonstrate how Class 8 truck sector energy usage can be reduced by leveraging existing energy-efficient technologies. Designed to further push the boundaries of freight tonne efficiency (FTE) and fuel economy, is the 3rd generation Starship truck.
Challenge
Transport emissions have been growing at an annual rate of 1.7% since 1990 and account for more than 33% of CO2 emissions from end-use sectors1. The CRT sector has a pivotal role to play in moving goods more efficiently2. Especially when you consider that, despite representing only 1% of all vehicles on the road, heavy-duty trucks currently account for 25% of global road-traffic emissions3.
More pressing still is the fact that the number of these vehicles is projected to nearly double by 2050, putting the need to decarbonise into even starker focus4. And when you consider that this global fleet is not only likely to experience growth over the next few decades, but also diversification in the form of alternative powertrains too – due to various macro-economic and regulatory factors – it’s vital that manufacturers and fleet managers alike take a futureproofing approach to their operations.
Starship 3.0 NG’s advanced aerodynamic design played a role in driving efficiencies as well. Its long, locomotive-style cab made from advanced materials helped to minimise drag coefficient by supporting the transition of airflow to the trailer, reducing fuel consumption while improving driving stability. And at the base of this design sits specially selected low-rolling-resistance tyres from Bridgestone that reduce energy loss and improve fuel consumption.
To support the drive towards greater efficiency for heavy-duty trucks, Starship 3.0 NG also included lower viscosity lubricant technology, in the form of Shell Rotella natural gas engine oil and Shell Spirax transmission and axle oils.
Solution
Thankfully, a future-ready truck does not have to rely on futuristic technologies; the solutions needed to support the industry’s decarbonisation efforts are all available today. From components to consumables, the right technologies are on hand to help heavy-duty fleets effectively decarbonise – all while prioritising cost control. It’s just a question of how you use them.
With Starship 3.0 NG, it was a combination of technologies that contributed to the improved5 fuel economy, FTE, and freight efficiency per kg of CO2 emitted during the 840-mile demonstration run on the US West Coast. One of which was the Cummins X15N™ engine, a 15-litre natural gas engine powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Where available, renewable natural gas (RNG), a low-carbon transportation fuel made from organic waste, can reduce carbon emissions even further6. The fuel is versatile too, as it can be interchanged with CNG and liquid natural gas (LNG) in transport vehicles.
Results
Together, these solutions have helped Starship 3.0 NG to deliver improvements over the US average for diesel Class 8 trucks5 of:
- 2.547 times better freight tonne efficiency (FTE) assessed on a tonne-miles per gallon basis
- 3.238 times better freight tonne efficiency (FTE) on a tonne-miles per kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emitted basis.
By more than doubling the average freight tonne efficiency (FTE), Starship 3.0 NG demonstrates that it’s possible to use currently available technology - fuels, drivetrains, lubricants, advanced aerodynamics and more - to radically improve fuel efficiency, total cost of operations and carbon emissions. However, more than that, it shows that this progress is only possible when the right experts are brought together.
The Starship Initiative is a product of collaboration – proving that working together across disciplines, fleets, OEMs, energy companies and fuel and lubricant providers can help the commercial road transport sector reach net zero, faster. Starting today.
Disclaimers
1 International Energy Agency. “Tracking Clean Energy Progress – Transport”. July 2023.
2 World Economic Forum. “Industries in depth - Cars, planes, trains: Where do transport CO₂ emissions come from?." October 2020.
3 World Economic Forum. “How to decarbonize heavy-duty transport and make it affordable”. August 2021.
4 Shell-based analysis, including: Shell Sky Scenario.
5 Parameters for average US diesel and NG trucks provided by NACFE.
6 US Environmental Protection Agency. "An Overview of Renewable Natural Gas from Biogas”. January 2021.
7 Natural gas converted to Diesel Gallon Equivalent (DGE).
8 Comparison on basis of tailpipe emissions in CO₂ equivalent. Emission factors and fuel parameters derived from the CA-GREET3.0 model. August 2018.
Cautionary note
Cautionary note
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this content “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. “Subsidiaries”, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this content refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
Forward-Looking Statements
This content contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this content, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this content are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this content and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this content. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this content.
Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
Also, in this content we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
Shell’s net-zero emissions target
Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.
Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures
This content may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.
The contents of websites referred to in this content do not form part of this content.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this content that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.
