The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a workshop Oct. 27 in Washington, DC. Its mission: To chart the future of truck stop electrification.

A broad spectrum of industry stakeholders was represented, including representatives from utility companies, idle reduction equipment suppliers Idle Aire Technologies, Xantrex Technology, Phillips and Temro, Dometic and Caterpillar’s MorElectric Truck.

OOIDA members Mike and Gail Swiger, West Dallas, WI, provided insight from owner-operators’ and drivers’ perspectives.

Mack and Volvo provided the OEM perspective, while engineers from the American Trucking Association discussed fleet concerns. FMCSA and DOE Personnel from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Energy participated.

Truck stops were represented by one truck stop owner and senior staff personnel from Natso, the truck stop trade association.

The workshop purpose was to define what regulatory support and industry standards will be needed in order to electrify truck stops and other facilities on a national scale. Locations discussed include shippers/receivers, highway rest areas and even shopping center parking lots.

Among the leading strategies to reduce idling is the use of on-board, 120-volt alternating current devices for heating, cooling and conveniences. This strategy currently holds the greatest promise for energy-efficient, lowest-cost idle reduction, according to EPA spokesman Paul Bubbosh.

After a review of the current status of idle-reduction technologies, including ground-based comprehensive comfort, communication and entertainment systems (Idle Aire), inverter/chargers for use with on-board batteries or shore power (Xantrex), and higher-voltage electrically equipped trucks (MorElectric Truck by Caterpillar), attendees split into two groups. One discussed facility concerns, the other reviewed on-board systems and driver concerns.

The facilities group discussed wiring and building code concerns and the availability of power. Typical truck-mounted generators and auxiliary power units provide 5KW of electric power. At that rate, a 200-space truck stop will require a megawatt of electricity.

On-truck considerations involve selection of equipment to be in trucks, how it should be wired and safety considerations. Both groups agreed that truck operators should set standards, and that The Technology and Maintenance Council was the best forum to develop standards and Recommended Practices. EPA will formally refer these questions to TMC so work can start at its March 2004 meeting.

--by Paul Abelson, technical editor

Paul Abelson can be reached at truckwriter@netscape.net.