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Technologies > Idle Reduction According to the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center, approximately 500,000 long-haul trucks cross U.S. highways each day. When truckers rest at the end of the day, they idle their engines during rest periods to provide heat, air-conditioning, and electrical power, using approximately 838 million gallons of fuel per year on idling alone. When the idling of these vehicles is added to that of light- and medium- duty vehicles and school buses, annual fuel use due to idling approaches 3 billion gallons. Idle reduction consists of strategies to help reduce this idling time for heavy-duty vehicles, but can also apply to light- and medium-duty vehicles, as well. They are many benefits to idle reduction, including money and fuel savings, reduced engine wear, and reduced emissions and noise pollution. Some strategies are listed below: Truck Stop Electrification Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) allows necessary systems to run inside a vehicle without running the engines, using electricity as a substitute power source. There are two types of TSE, single-system electrification and shore power (onboard) systems. In single-system TSE, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are located above the designated parking area and are attached to the vehicle with a hose. To accommodate the HVAC hose, a special window adapter must be installed in the truck. Shore power systems are essentially electric outlets that trucks can plug into. They require more equipment than single-system stations; trucks will need an inverter to convert 120-volt power, an electrical HVAC system, and the hardware to plug into an electrical outlet. Besides helping to keep our air clean, TSE significantly reduces fuel costs for trucker and also greatly diminishes noise pollution. Air Conditioners Special air conditioners to cool just the sleeper cab are now available. These are often battery powered and help eliminate emissions caused by idling. Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) APUs eliminate idling by providing power and climate control to without keeping the engine running. They are usually powered by small internal combustion diesel engines which then activate power generators and heat-recovery systems, though some APUs are now being designed to use hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel. Cab and Block Heaters Fuel-fired heaters provide heat to the cab and the engine block. They are separate technology from the vehicle’s primary engine, and thus only use a fraction of the fuel that would be used by idling. These heaters can also be paired with cooling technologies for a complete heating and cooling package. Cylinder Deactivation Cylinder deactivation limits combustion to part of the engine, allowing a small reduction of fuel use and emissions. It is most often used during light-load operation when the driver is only using a fraction of the engine’s maximum power.
New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition // www.njcleancities.org // 2009

Technologies > Idle Reduction

According to the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center, approximately 500,000 long-haul trucks cross U.S. highways each day. When truckers rest at the end of the day, they idle their engines during rest periods to provide heat, air-conditioning, and electrical power, using approximately 838 million gallons of fuel per year on idling alone. When the idling of these vehicles is added to that of light- and medium- duty vehicles and school buses, annual fuel use due to idling approaches 3 billion gallons.

Idle reduction consists of strategies to help reduce this idling time for heavy-duty vehicles, but can also apply to light- and medium-duty vehicles, as well. They are many benefits to idle reduction, including money and fuel savings, reduced engine wear, and reduced emissions and noise pollution. Some strategies are listed below:

Truck Stop Electrification

Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) allows necessary systems to run inside a vehicle without running the engines, using electricity as a substitute power source. There are two types of TSE, single-system electrification and shore power (onboard) systems. In single-system TSE, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are located above the designated parking area and are attached to the vehicle with a hose. To accommodate the HVAC hose, a special window adapter must be installed in the truck. Shore power systems are essentially electric outlets that trucks can plug into. They require more equipment than single-system stations; trucks will need an inverter to convert 120-volt power, an electrical HVAC system, and the hardware to plug into an electrical outlet. Besides helping to keep our air clean, TSE significantly reduces fuel costs for trucker and also greatly diminishes noise pollution.

Air Conditioners

Special air conditioners to cool just the sleeper cab are now available. These are often battery powered and help eliminate emissions caused by idling.

Auxiliary Power Units (APUs)

APUs eliminate idling by providing power and climate control to without keeping the engine running. They are usually powered by small internal combustion diesel engines which then activate power generators and heat-recovery systems, though some APUs are now being designed to use hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel.

Cab and Block Heaters

Fuel-fired heaters provide heat to the cab and the engine block. They are separate technology from the vehicle’s primary engine, and thus only use a fraction of the fuel that would be used by idling. These heaters can also be paired with cooling technologies for a complete heating and cooling package.

Cylinder Deactivation

Cylinder deactivation limits combustion to part of the engine, allowing a small reduction of fuel use and emissions. It is most often used during light-load operation when the driver is only using a fraction of the engine’s maximum power.