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Truck Stop Electrification for Heavy-Duty Trucks

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that approximately 5,000 truck stops in the United States offer parking and other services, including fueling stations, restaurants, stores, and showers. Truck stops are vital to America's over-the-road transport system.

Because DOT mandates that truckers rest for 10 hours after driving for 11 hours, truckers might park at truck stops for several hours. Often they idle their engines during this rest time to provide their sleeper compartments with air conditioning or heating or to run electrical appliances such as refrigerators or televisions.

Truck stop electrification allows truckers to "plug in" vehicles to operate necessary systems without idling the engine. In some cases, a standalone system can provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning directly to the sleeper compartment.

Options for truck stop electrification include single system electrification systems, which are owned and operated by the truck stop, and shore power systems, which require both onboard and off-board equipment.

Single System Electrification

In single systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are contained in a structure above the truck parking spaces. A hose from the HVAC system is connected to the truck window, and a computer touch screen enables payment.

These stand-alone systems are owned and maintained by private companies that charge an hourly fee. To accommodate the HVAC hose, a window template must be installed in the truck.

Shore Power (Onboard) Systems

Shore power systems provide electrical outlets that trucks can plug into. To use shore power systems, the truck must be equipped with an inverter to convert 120-volt power, an electrical HVAC system, and the hardware to plug into the electrical outlet.

Truck stop outlets are owned by private companies that regulate use and fees. Onboard equipment is owned and maintained by the trucking company.

Benefits

Truck stop electrification can reduce diesel emissions and save trucking companies the cost of fuel that would be used while idling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that fuel savings could be has high as $3,240 per truck parking space. Additionally, truck stop electrification can allow truckers to accommodate local idling regulations and reduce noise.

Availability

More than 130 truck stops nationwide are equipped with idle reduction facilities. Use the AFDC Truck Stop Electrification Site Locator to find these stations. Also learn about available idle reduction systems.

Shore Power Pilot Project

This project is sponsored by the 49er Travel Plaza and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District as a national effort to reduce long-haul diesel truck idling and emissions through truck stop electrification. During the demonstration, power is free, and extension cords and equipment are available onsite. The outlets are rated at 20 amps, which can power an air conditioner, heater, microwave, stereo, TV, VCR, DVD player, refrigerator, coffee maker, stove, reading lamp, and battery charger to keep the DC power level up. Rest stops are quieter, and health risks are reduced because fewer trucks are idling. See the following documents for more information and schematic drawings of how truck stop electrification works.

An alternative to truck stop electrification is onboard idle reduction equipment.