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Technologies, Strategies and Policies:
Idling Reduction
Federal Excise Tax ExemptionUnder the SmartWay Transport program, EPA has researched, developed and promoted a wide variety of technology and non-technology strategies to reduce long duration idling, including:
- Idling Reduction Technologies List: A list of currently available idling reduction technologies and strategies for trucks, locomotives, and at truck parking spaces, rail yards, and other idling locations.
- Emissions testing to study the effects of idling on air quality and driver health
- Demonstration projects to evaluate truck stop and rail yard idle reduction technologies
- Interactive Activity Maps (IAM) - a geographic information system that allows you to locate various programs and projects that reduce fuel and pollution, such as electrified truck stops, renewable energy refueling stations, and marine terminals
- Education and outreach about the impacts and opportunities surrounding long-duration idling and available solutions.
In addition, state and local governments are doing their part to help develop national strategies to promote alternatives to long-duration idling:
- Air Quality Guidance to explore the local and state-level impacts of idling reduction strategies
- Innovative Funding and Incentive Opportunities for testing and demonstration projects
- State and Local Anti-Idling Laws to regulate the impact of long-duration idling on public health and the environment
What are the alternatives to long duration idling?
There are many alternatives to engine idling and they range from no cost to several thousand dollars. The alternatives can be divided into three broad categories:
- Non-technology strategies
- Behavioral Change
- Technology Based
Behavioral Change
Education about the impacts and adverse effects of long-duration idling can help change behavior. Informing the driver or operator about the fuel consumption, emissions, and the potential health risks plays an important part in changing behavior.
Fleet owners can offer financial incentives to drivers to reduce idling. Many large trucking companies already offer these incentives and have reported success in reducing idling times below national averages. However, simply instituting a company "no-idling" policy isn't enough deter a driver or operator from idling in extreme weather conditions—education and incentives are only a partial solution. That's where technology solutions come into play.
Technology Based
For technology based alternatives, the list is further sub-divided into four categories:
- Automatic engine shut down/start up (truck and locomotive)
An automatic engine shut down/start up system controls the engine start and stop, based on a set time period or ambient temperature, and other parameters (e.g., battery charge). The application for ambient temperature addresses the issue of cab comfort. For example, a driver can set the system to turn on the engine and heat when the outside temperature reaches 65° F. For trucks, these devices are available from some of the engine manufacturers and cost between $900 - $1,200. For locomotives, one company manufactures such a product, though it is best used to control locomotive idling in warmer climates where the need to idle is discretionary. Estimated cost: $7,000 - $15,000. - Direct Fired Heater (truck only)
These are small, lightweight devices that provide heat only. They cost about $1,000 and are available at the engine manufacturer level. - Diesel Driven Heating System (locomotive only)
Designed to heat the coolant and oil to allow for main engine shutdown in cold temperatures, the system does not use a generator to produce auxiliary power. Instead, it circulates and heats the engine coolant and oil to a target temperature of 120° F. Estimated cost: $35,000. - Auxiliary Power Units/Generator Sets (truck and locomotive)
These are small, diesel-powered engines (5 to 10 horsepower) that are installed on the truck to provide air conditioning, heat, and electrical power to run appliances. - Electrification
Electrification refers to a technology that harnesses an electrical system to provide the truck or locomotive operator with climate control and other needs, eliminating the need to idle the main engine. It can be a stand-alone system, or it can include a combined on-board and off-board system. Estimated costs: $7,000 - $15,000 per space (truck), $4,000 - $14,000 per space (locomotive).
On October 27, 2003, EPA and the US Department of Transportation held the first national workshop on developing consistent truck stop electrification codes and electrical standards. Following this workshop, EPA published a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) in the Federal Register requesting comments and suggestions which would be used to better develop a national consensus. Truck Stop Electrification Codes and Electrical Standards; Notice of Data Availability (PDF) (13 pp, 157 KB, EPA420-R-05-002, January 2005, About PDFs) and related materials are available in the Federal Docket Management System. (NOTE: To access the docket from this link, select Advanced Search, then Docket Search, and then enter EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0226 as the Docket ID.)
Currently Available Sources of Technology Solutions:
EPA's list of idle reduction technologies contains detailed information about currently available idle reduction technologies. Note, the inclusion of company names and descriptions of their products is not an endorsement of the product, nor a certification or verification of the technology, and is intended for informational purposes only.
If you would like to list your company's product on this web site list please complete the following form.