After several months of testing two “no-idle” trucks with Ozark Trucking Inc, The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is ready to roll out equipment that will allow trucks to be self-contained, no-idle trucks.
EPRI received a $200,000 grant under the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport program. Fleets interested in the program can install a subsidized Dometic or Taylor Made air-conditioner/heater unit, Xantrex inverter/charger, Phillips & Temro basic cab wiring kit, and from one to three Lifeline VRLA batteries.
Bill Warf, project manager with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, says the system lets a driver plug into “shore power” to run in-cab heat and air-conditioning and auxiliary devices, or use battery power if plug-ins aren't available.
Under the grant, fleets purchase a tailored, onboard idle-reduction technology package, and EPRI reimburses 50% of the cost. EPRI's project team will assist the fleet with installing the first few systems. Warf said participants must track the reduced idle time and maintenance costs for 12 months, and the fleet is then obligated to reinvest those savings in additional idle-reduction technologies.
According to Warf, the test period with Sacramento-based Ozark went well and idling was reduced by nearly 75%. “We documented the average idle time for seven of Ozark's long-haul trucks, and they were averaging 1,788 hours of idling per truck, per year,” he said. “With our idle-reduction technology, we should see a reduction of 1,344 hours — that's based on extrapolating the data to 12 months. That's a direct savings of more than $2,000 a year in fuel, per truck (based on $1.49 per gallon). What's more, it's a reduction of 425 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 11 tons of carbon dioxide per year, per truck.”
For more information about the SmartWay program, visit www.epa.gov/smartway/transport or phone Warf at 916-732-6976.