Video: Walmart rolls out semi-truck of the future

The new design was introduced at the Mid-America Trucking Show, and the company hopes it saves money and more.

"Walmart is continually looking for innovative ways to increase our efficiencies and reduce our fleet's emissions," Tracy Rosser said.

Rosser is the senior vice president of transportation at Walmart; he called the new vehicles “a bold step in transportation technologies that, although not on the road in its current form, will serve as a learning platform for the future that will accelerate our progress toward our goals.”

The end goal is to help the company's massive delivery fleet save fuel as well as produce less emissions.

The trucks will feature advanced a turbine-powered range extending hybrid power train, electrified auxiliary components, and space-age control systems. The trucks will have engines that run on diesel but also liquid natural gas, biofuels or other fuels.

The trailers are also cutting-edge technology, made nearly exclusively from carbon-fiber construction. That shaves off almost 4,000 pounds when compared to old-fashioned trailers.

The trucks aren’t on the road yet and there is no timetable for then they will be. Nevertheless, Rosser can’t wait for the day they hit the highway.

“It’s important that we continue to work collectively on future innovations and challenge ourselves to look boldly at fleet efficiency in new and different ways,” Rosser wrapped up.

More here.