Idling Reduction Technology Solutions Technology Options To Support Idling Reduction in Light- and Medium-Duty Vehicles Calculating Costs Savings and Payback Funding Resources NOTES TO THE PRESENTER This is IdleBox’s Technology Solutions module. If you are giving the Idling Reduction for Fleets presentation to those with a good knowledge of fleet operations (e.g., fleet managers), you may want to include all or parts of this module. This module could also work as a brief, stand-alone follow-up presentation. Watch for new modules providing other types of information in the future.

Technology To Support Idling Reduction Engine idle management systems Heaters for cab and/or engine block Auxiliary power systems Electrified parking spaces The first steps toward idling reduction are awareness and driver education. In some cases, the best way to achieve further reductions in idling is the use of technology. The technologies available for light- and medium-duty vehicles fall into four general categories: Engine idle management systems Heaters for cab and/or engine block Auxiliary power systems Electrified parking spaces (currently, medium-duty only) In addition to these technologies, some fleets use GPS-based telematics systems to gather data on driving behaviors to identify ways to improve fuel economy. While telematics systems do not themselves reduce idling, they can provide alerts on unnecessary or prolonged idling. Some companies have incentive programs for drivers who log low idling times, which is a great way to facilitate driver “buy in.”

Technology To Support Idling Reduction Engine idle management systems Idle timer Turns engine off after a preset amount of idle time Automatic engine shut-down/start-up system Turns engine off and restarts it based on cabin temperature or battery-charge level Engine idle management systems fall into two general categories. Idle timers, which are also called “idle limiters,” simply shut off a vehicle’s engine after a preset amount of idle time (e.g., 3 minutes). Automatic engine shut-down/start-up systems shut down a vehicle’s engine and restart it when the temperature inside the vehicle exceeds a lower or upper limit (to power HVAC) or when battery power falls below a certain threshold (to recharge the battery).

Technology To Support Idling Reduction Heaters for cab and/or engine block Provide warmth to passenger compartment Use little fuel Some systems provide heat for the vehicle occupants or for the engine block. Vehicle operators who need heat for the cab or passenger compartment might consider air heaters. These units use much less fuel than does engine idling. Heaters come in a number of forms: Fuel-fired heaters are sometimes called “direct-fired heaters” (or “bunk heaters,” in the case of heavy-duty trucks). Coolant heaters use fuel to heat engine coolant, which is then circulated to keep the operator cabin warm. Waste-heat recovery systems circulate coolant warmed by engine operation to provide heat to the operator cabin when the engine is off. Engine-block heaters simply preheat the engine block (or keep it warm). For some diesel engines in cold weather, a warmed engine block eliminates the need for prolonged, “warm up” idling.

Technology To Support Idling Reduction Auxiliary power systems Auxiliary power is provided for: Heat A/C Electronics Other devices, including “power take-off” (PTO) equipment Auxiliary power systems provide power for HVAC, electronics, and other devices. Some systems provide power for power take-off (PTO) equipment. (PTO refers to a system that diverts power from the main vehicle engine to power another device, such as a hydraulic lift.) The auxiliary power systems, which may be run with diesel fuel or by battery, are often called “auxiliary power units” (APUs). Systems powered by other means, such as fuel cells or solar power, are also possible. A number of police departments are using either automatic stop-start controls with battery-charge monitor or auxiliary batteries, which run vehicle warning lights and communication systems while the engine is off. Use of these technologies can significantly reduce idling times, which means decreased fuel use and engine wear.

Technology To Support Idling Reduction Electrified parking spaces (EPS) May provide: Heating/cooling via duct Electrical outlets Single and dual systems No local emissions Electrified parking spaces (EPS)—also known as truck stop electrification, or TSE—provide heating, cooling, and other services to parked vehicles. These systems produce no local emissions, although there are upstream emissions from electricity generation and the production and transport of power-plant fuel. Single-system EPS supplies services from a pedestal that delivers warm or cooled air to a vehicle through a duct that attaches to a vehicle with a window adaptor. These systems may also provide electrical outlets to power other devices. Dual-system EPS allows the vehicle operator to plug electrical equipment on the truck into a pedestal that provides electricity. (This is called “dual system” because both on-board and off-board equipment is required. The vehicle’s systems must be “plug-in ready” or “shore-power compatible.”) EPS technology, already used for long-haul trucks during overnight rest periods, is emerging for some medium-duty vehicles. The slide shows an ambulance “plugged in” to a MediDock unit at a hospital in Vermont. The ambulance driver shuts off the engine and plugs in to power vehicle electronics and medical equipment. The duct provides climate control. The benefits of reducing diesel exhaust near hospital emergency rooms are especially obvious. A TSE locator for heavy-duty truck drivers is available at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/tse.

Estimating Your Payback Argonne National Laboratory has created calculators that allow fleet managers to determine how much money their fleet can save with idling reduction. The use of idling reduction equipment may pay for itself more quickly than anticipated. These calculators are currently available as PDF or Excel files at http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/toolbox/docs/idlingcalculators.xls.

Funding Resources Bank loans National grant, loan, and rebate programs EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA) EPA SmartWay Finance Program Manufacturer rebates and loans Nonprofit organization programs (e.g., Cascade Sierra Solutions) State grant and loan programs State Clean Diesel grant programs (EPA) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ [DOT]) grant programs Programs targeted to assisting small businesses In addition to bank loans, there are programs that offer grants, loans, and rebates for idling reduction equipment. Grant, loan, and rebate programs are, of course, subject to change. For example, EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program has withstood sharp budget cuts. The program’s focus has shifted from grants to low-interest loans and rebate programs. (For those who dread grant-application paperwork, a shift to rebates may be welcome.) Some programs require that technologies be EPA SmartWay verified and/or California Air Resource Board (CARB) approved. Before applying for program funding, you’ll want to check these and other requirements. Fleets with vehicles operating in California will definitely want to confirm that devices are CARB approved. Many state agencies also offer funding options [PRESENTER: YOU MAY WANT TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING LIST WITH ONE PERTINENT TO YOUR AUDIENCE (REGIONAL, STATE, OR LOCAL)]: Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality California Air Resources Board Minnesota Pollution Control Agency New York State Energy Research and Development Authority North Central Texas Council of Governments Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant Program Our coalition can help you identify funding opportunities and may be able to help with application paperwork. For coalition stakeholders, we offer the following assistance: [PRESENTER: DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR COALITION OFFERS].

For More Information A free monthly, electronic newsletter that provides: Information about current funding opportunities and recent awards News about changes in ordinances, laws, regulations, and enforcement Alerts about upcoming meetings, events, and other resources of interest Links to idling cost calculators and other idling reduction resources www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/resources/fcvt_national_idling.html National Idling Reduction Network News is an excellent resource dedicated specifically to idling reduction. It’s published monthly and available on line at no cost. If you don’t want to write down the long URL, you can Google “idling news.” The newsletter is likely to be the first hit. Once you get to the site, you’ll see an option to subscribe.

National Clean Fleets Partnership Petroleum Reduction Leaders AT&T Best Buy Coca-Cola Enterprise Holdings FedEx Frito-Lay GE Johnson Controls, Inc. OSRAM SYLVANIA Pacific Gas and Electric Company PepsiCo Ryder Schwan’s Home Service Staples ThyssenKrupp Elevator UPS Veolia Environmental Services Verizon Through its National Clean Fleets Partnership, Clean Cities works with large, private fleets to reduce petroleum use. The initiative provides fleets with specialized resources, expertise, and support to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel-saving measures—including idling reduction—into their operations. If you’d like to know more about the National Clean Fleets Partnership but don’t want to write down the long URL, just Google “National Clean Fleets.” http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/national_partnership.html

National Clean Fleets Partner Coca-Cola A leader in fleet emission-reduction initiatives 11,000 drivers trained in eco-driving techniques Telematics reduces fuel use and idling Extensive use of hybrid and all-electric vehicles One National Clean Fleets partner is Coca-Cola. The company is training more than 11,000 drivers in eco-driving techniques, such as minimal braking and early gear changes, through the company’s custom-designed Smartdriver program. Additionally, through proactively adjusting asset computer settings and the use of telematics, Coca-Cola has successfully decreased fuel use and idling, reducing its carbon footprint significantly. Like many companies, Coca-Cola has a no-idling policy that is enforced with devices that turn off the engine after 10 minutes of non-use.1 These efforts, coupled with Coca-Cola’s extensive use of hybrid fuel and all-electric vehicle technologies, have earned them a leadership position in corporate fleet emissions reduction. 1Fleet Owner, April 2009, “Green Fleet of the Year: Coca-Cola Enterprises,” http://fleetowner.com/green/green-fleet-coca-cola-enterprises-0409.

National Clean Fleets Partner PepsiCo Committed to 100% driver education Driver certification at 100% Efficient route planning Idling control and speed governance PepsiCo has set an industry standard by using EPA SmartWay*-certified carriers for 100% of its transportation needs. Meanwhile, fleet efficiencies throughout PepsiCo are driven by improved route planning and simple best practices, such as idling control, speed governance, and preventive maintenance programs. *For those who aren’t familiar with it, the EPA SmartWay program is a public-private collaboration between the USEPA and the freight transportation industry. It helps freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies improve fuel efficiency and save money. SmartWay’s Technology Program identifies equipment, technologies, and strategies that save fuel and reduce emissions.

National Clean Fleets Partner Staples Annual fuel savings of nearly 3 million gallons “Automatic” idling reduction Speed controls Advanced driver training Staples has increased its fleet’s fuel efficiency by more than 20% since 2007. It accomplished this through fuel-saving strategies such as automatic idle reduction, speed controls, and advanced driver training. According to the company, the measures yield annual fuel savings of nearly 3 million gallons. In 2011, Staples started operating 53 all-electric delivery trucks in Ohio, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, and California.

Idling Reduction We Are the SOLUTION! Thank you. Coalition Name Presenter Contact info Clean Cities /