Truck Topics
Anti-Idling Technology Facts
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the average big truck engine consumes 0.8 gallons of fuel an hour to idle – more if it's running accessories like air conditioning.
Spread over a working year, your annual idling cost can total into thousands of dollars, and that's just for the price of fuel. The wear and tear on the idling engine has its cost as well.
Ray Lawrence of Espar of Michigan says that auxiliary power units and generators – referred to as APUs and gen sets – are a cost-effective alternative to idling. Mounted on the truck, these efficient truck-mounted diesel engines burn less than a quart of fuel per hour.
He tells us, "There are significant differences in the APU system such as the Carrier Comfort Pro and Thermo King TriPac and the RigmasterPower gen set. APUs are integrated into the truck’s cooling and air-conditioning systems, while a genset is defined as a stand-alone device."
He explains, "The integrated APU system generally consists of asmall internal combustion engine (usually diesel) equipped with a generator and heat recovery system to provide electricity and heat. For air conditioning, an electrically powered air-conditioner unit is normally installed in the sleeper, although some systems use the truck's air-conditioning system.
"Auxiliary power units (and gen sets) can help drivers comply with local idling ordinances, reduce emissions and noise, and save on the cost of truck fuel and maintenance."
Lawrence goes on to say that because most auxiliary power units are integrated directly into the truck's systems, they offer a high level of convenience. In addition, APUs are a proven technology that is widely available and is even sold as an option on some new trucks.
A gen set like the RigmasterPower system, says Lawrence, has a Perkins or Caterpillar diesel; a 6 KW AC 120-volt generator; and a 60-amp alternator. A separate heat and air-conditioning unit that is run automotively and does not draw power from the generator is installed in the sleeper. If the truck’s air conditioner were to fail, the driver could run the APU and its air-conditioning system while running down the road.
Another type of APU
Lawrence says that there is a relatively low-cost solution to providing heat to the cab and sleeper without idling the truck's engine - the direct fired cab heater. The Airtronic D2 and D4 bunk heaters provide sufficient heat for even the coldest climates so the deciding factor normally would be the need for overnight air conditioning and electrical power.
A direct-fired heater can also be incorporated into another APU system. The Airtronic D2 bunk heater is an integral part of Thermo King’s Tri Pac, an APU the company brought to market a few years ago. Both systems are engineered into a seamless unit; the driver only has to operate one thermostat.
Ray Lawrence: "Regardless of the anti-idling system an owner-operator uses, if he can save fuel, it's all to the good. I invite everyone to stop by or call me and I can demonstrate to them the return on investment and how anti-idling technology can pay for itself in a relatively short time period."
Manufacturers/distributors of anti-idling systems
Integrated auxiliary power units (APUs):
Stand-alone generator systems:
Black Rock Systems, LLC, Reno, NV: 775-771-7244 (www.blackrocksystemsllc.com) Carrier Transicold, Athens, GA 30601, 706-357-7223 (www.trucktrailer.carrier.com) Centramatic, Dallas, TX: 800-523-8473 (www.centramatic.com) eCycle, Inc., Temple, PA: 610-939-0480 (http://ecycle.com) Energy & Engine Technology Corp., Plano, TX: 972-732-6360 (www.eent.net) Florida Manufacturing Group (Idlebuster), Odessa, FL: 866-GET-IDLE (www.idlebuster.com) Flying J, Inc., Ogden, UT: 801-624-1772 (www.flyingj.com) Idle Solutions, Clackamas, OR: 800-275-0574 (www.idlesolutions.com) Kohler Power Systems (a division of Kohler Company) Kohler, WI: 920-457-4441 (www.kohler.com) Mechron Power Systems, a division of Toromont Industries, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 888-733-3858 (www.ccslightning.com) Rig Master Power Corp., Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Amy Egerter, marketing communications manager, 416-201-7594 (www.rigmasterpower.com) SCS/Frigette Truck Climate Systems, Fort Worth, TX: 800-545-6341 (www.scsfrigette.com) Tag-A-Long Idle Eliminator: 877-858-4629 (www.idleeliminator.com) TruckGen, Jacksonville, FL: 904-378-1220 (www.truckgen.com)Fuel-fired heaters/air conditioning systems:
Automotive Climate Control (ACC): 574-264-2190 (www.acclimatecontrol.com) Espar of Michigan, Romulus, MI: 800.837.3900www.expeditersonline.com/sub/espar/index.html Webasto Product North America, Fenton, MI: 810-593-6000 (www.webasto-us.com) Teleflex Canada, Richmond BC, Canada: 604-303-2880 (www.teleflex.com)
Battery-based systems:
Engine idle management (“shutdownâ€) systems:
Electrical (“shorepowerâ€) solutions:
Other:
AuraGen : 310-643-5300 (www.aurasystems.com) Dometic Environmental Corp., Richmond, VA: 800-234-8778 (www.dometictruck.com) Malone Specialties, Inc., Mentor, OH: (www.cvmarc.com)