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SmartWay Publications


Following is a list of documents related to the SmartWay Transport Partnership. Partners are welcome to use these materials to educate their staff and customers about SmartWay, as well as to identify potential fuel savings and emission reduction strategies. For more information about finding a specific publication, please contact us.

"You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more."

General Information about the SmartWay Program

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Information about Fuel Efficient Technologies and Strategies

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Idling Reduction Testing Reports and Studies

EPA Testing Study

"Study of Exhaust Emissions from Idling Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks and Commercially Available Idle Reducing Devices (PDF)" (12 pp, 1.2M, EPA 420-R-02-025, October 2002)

EPA was one of the first organizations to comprehensively examine the emissions impacts from idling trucks. EPA's idling study was conducted over a two year period at the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, Maryland. A short introductory study with five tests was conducted in June 2001, and a larger study with 37 tests was conducted in May 2002. In the larger study, EPA worked with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Rowan University with funding from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

EPA is also interested in the health impacts of idling engines on truck drivers. In July 2004, EPA funded an interagency agreement to study the truck cab emissions concentrations inside trucks at a large truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee. The interagency agreement was awarded to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as noted in this press advisory. Partners include Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee. This project is part of the Watt Road Environmental Laboratory Initiative which is on I-40 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In KB mber 2005, the University of Tennessee published its final report (PDF) (154 pp, 8.8M) that measures the air pollutant concentrations inside and outside of a truck cab under conditions of extended idling at a truck stop. For more information on this study, contact Dr. Wayne Davis, phone: (865) 974-5321.

Case Studies

Since 2000, EPA has funded several idle reduction demonstration projects under the authority of the Clean Air Act, Section 103(b). Below is a brief description of each project.

  • Hunts Point, New York Truck Stop Electrification Project

    Case Study: Assessing the Regional Implications of Advanced Truck Stop Electrification: A Report to EPA (PDF); (9 pp, 511K, February 2003).In August 2001, EPA awarded a $250,000 grant to the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the benefits of truck stop electrification (TSE) at a large food distribution center in the Bronx borough of New York City. The project included a public outreach and education campaign designed to raise awareness of TSE. It also included mapping of locations along I-95 to deploy TSE projects. For more information on the project contact NESCAUM, at: (617) 259-2000.

  • Chicago Locomotive Idle Reduction Project
    Case Study: "Case Study: Chicago Locomotive Idle Reduction Project (PDF)" (9 pp, 184K)

    In September 2003, EPA awarded a $60,000 grant to the City of Chicago Department of Environment to evaluate the emission and noise reductions and fuel savings of a Class I railroad idle reduction technology. For more information on the project, e-mail K. Kennoy: kkennoy@cityofchicago.org.

  • Vancouver, Washington Locomotive Idle Reduction Project

    Case study: "Vancouver, WA Switchyard Locomotive Idle Reduction Project (PDF)" (17 pp, 371K, October 2005).
    In April 2003, EPA awarded a $85,000 grant to the Southwest Clean Air Agency in Vancouver, Washington, to evaluate the emission reductions and fuel savings of a Class I railcar using a combined auxiliary engine idle reduction technology and automatic shut-down/start-up technology. For more information on the project contact Paul Mairose, Chief Engineer, Southwest Clean Air Agency, phone: (360) 574-3058 (ext. 30), e-mail: paul@swcleanair.org.


  • New York State Thruway (I-90), DeWitt Service Area: IdleAire Technologies Corporation Advanced Truck Stop Electrification

    Case study: "Truck Stop Electrification as a Long-Haul Idling Alternative (PDF)" (20 pp, 334K). In June, 2002, the Antares Group, Inc. managed the installation and analyzed operations of IdleAire technology at the DeWitt public rest area. Their report represents a one year evaluation of the technology. Quantified benefits include emissions displacement and fuel and cost savings for the user. For more information contact Tom Perrot, phone: (301) 429-1180, e-mail: tperrot@newwesttech.us.

  • Gary, Indiana Truck Stop Electrification Project

    In August 2002, EPA awarded a $125,000 grant to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to deploy a truck stop electrification project to reduce emissions and noise that impact an environmental justice community, while conserving fuel for private fleets using the technology. For more information on this project contact Shawn Seals of IDEM, phone: (317) 233-0425, email: sseals@dem.state.in.us.

  • Mobile Idle Reduction Technology (Battery and Electric Powered System)

    In January 2003, EPA awarded a $200,000 grant to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to evaluate the emission reduction effectiveness and fuel savings of an on-board idle reduction technology that uses an electric heating and air conditioning system, inverter/charge, and battery packs. The funds offset the costs to the truck purchaser by 50 percent. Also, truck owners track the fuel and maintenance savings of the technology, and re-invest the savings into the purchase of additional idle reduction technologies.

    For information about participating in this project please contact Mark Duvall of EPRI, phone: (650) 855-2591, e-mail: mduvall@epri.com; or Bill Warf of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, phone: (916) 732-6976, e-mail: bwarf@smud.org.

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Other Studies

Motor Coach Idling Field Observation Study for Washington, DC, Metro Area (PDF) (42 pp, 414K) This study was designed to observe and report motor coach idling behavior and better understand the effectiveness of idling reduction laws on these vehicles.

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Emission Reduction Strategies for Drayage Fleets

EPA Technical Bulletins: A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies for Drayage:

EPA Technical Bulletins: A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies for Drayage:

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Policy Guidance Documents

Reducing long-duration idling will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter. For state and local air quality planners and transportation officials, these emission reductions can be used in air quality plans such as state implementation plans, transportation and general conformity, and new source review offsets. EPA published several guidance documents about quantifying and using truck and locomotive idle emission reductions in air quality plans.

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