Fleet Demo To Gauge Costs Of Idle Reduction Equipment

      Three trucking fleets and their drivers will work with several suppliers and the federal Department of Energy in a multi-year demonstration of idle-reduction equipment, according to the DOE's National Renewal Energy Laboratory. Ken Proc, a lab engineer, said the project will gather cost and operating data, which DOE will disseminate to the trucking public.
      The vehicles should be in operation this winter. Costs of running the special tractors will also be compared to those without the devices. The demonstration includes three teams of fleets, truck builders and suppliers:
      • Schneider National will run 100 Freightliners with Webasto fuel-fired sleeper heaters operating out of Green Bay, and 20 Freightliners with Webasto Cab Coolers operating out of Dallas.
      • Cox Transfer will run five new International tractors equipped with Caterpillar's MorElectric system, which includes an on-board auxiliary power unit and electrically driven air pump and cab air conditioning. The APU will burn 0.1 gallon per hour instead of 0.9 gallon consumed by an idling C13 diesel.
      • Wal-Mart Transportation will run 20 Freightliner tractors with Espar fuel-fired bunk heaters and hydronic engine preheaters, plus roof-mounted coolers run by truck batteries.
      The DOE project will track costs of installation and maintenance, plus duty cycles, fuel consumption, engine and component wear, and resale value. Info will be posted at www.ott.doe.gov.