With Starship, IndyCar Runs on Natural Gas
This page is translated from the original post "Avec Starship, l’Indycar carbure au gaz naturel" in French.
- 15/05/2025 17:39
With Shell Starship 3.0, Indycar opens a new era of eco-friendly transportation in motorsport.
This Thursday, alongside the press conferences for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, the American Indycar Series announced new initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint. Among them, the integration of Shell Starship 3.0, a natural gas-powered truck, into its operational fleet. This innovative vehicle will be put into service after the 109th edition of the Indy 500, marking a turning point in the competition’s sustainable strategy.
Starting June 1, 2025, at the Detroit Grand Prix, the Shell Starship 3.0 will transport Pennzoil’s technical trailer, a Shell subsidiary and supplier of lubricants for Team Penske. Featuring a carbon fiber structure, an ultra-aerodynamic design, and a Cummins X15N engine running on natural gas, this truck addresses the environmental challenges of heavy transportation. Powered by renewable natural gas (RNG) derived from organic waste, the Starship can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to traditional diesel engines. In certain configurations, RNG can even achieve a negative carbon footprint.
A Global Awareness in the World of Competition
Alongside, Indycar, in collaboration with NTT DATA, launched a digital platform for tracking emissions. This technology analyzes logistical activities in real-time to provide accurate data and guide decisions toward continuous reduction of the carbon footprint.
These initiatives highlight a broader reflection on the future of road transport. While electrification dominates discussions, Shell Starship 3.0 offers a different perspective. Natural gas and renewable biofuel-powered engines could play a crucial role, especially in long-distance transport, where autonomy constraints and infrastructure limitations still favour alternatives beyond electric.
In the face of urgent climate issues, diversifying technological solutions seems essential. The experience of Shell Starship and its application in demanding environments like Indycar demonstrate that sustainable and immediately deployable alternatives already exist. If supported and scaled up, these innovations could redefine road transport standards for decades to come.
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