U.S. Interstate 5 through California, Oregon and Washington will be transformed in 2012 into the first interstate corridor with increased availability of anti-idling technology, according to Shorepower Technologies.
Power pedestals will be added to six truck stops and travel centers along the I-5 corridor – five in California and one in Oregon. Some will open in early 2012; the rest will begin offering the service later in the year.
Those locations will join four existing truck stops and travel centers along I-5 in the three states outfitted with parking spaces with electrical connections, allowing drivers to shut off their engines during rest periods, plug in and use in-cab comfort, communications and entertainment systems. By eliminating idling, those drivers will reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as well as noise and emissions.
The Shorepower Truck Electrification Project, a federally-funded project administered by Shorepower Technologies and Cascade Sierra Solutions, is placing connections for AC power at 50 truck stops on the nation’s major freight corridors. I-5 is the first of 10 interstate corridors targeted for increased availability of this anti-idling technology.
“When this phase is complete in 2012, we’ll have power pedestals located between 40 and 200 miles from each other,” said Jeff Kim, president and CEO of Shorepower Technologies. “This will allow the majority of truckers to have assurance that power is available along their route. Truckers and fleet owners have indicated they’re interested in electrical connections at parking spaces, but the biggest question about it they have is whether it’s even available, and if so where. Our long-term goal is to make this a standard service in most places a trucker stops for the night.”
The new locations to be added under the STEP program are:
• Flying J Travel Plaza in Bakersfield, Calif.
• Pilot Travel Center in Dunnigan, Calif.
• Flying J Travel Plaza in Lebec, Calif.
• Flying J Travel Plaza in Lodi, Calif.
• Pilot Travel Center in Weed, Calif.
• 7 Feathers Truck and Travel Center in Canyonville, Ore.
The new sites will have between 24 and 48 parking spaces with electric power availability. Shorepower also noted it plans to offer 480-volt connections for TRUs at the Pilot Flying J locations in Bakersfield, Lebec, Lodi and Weed.
At its most basic, using Shorepower’s service requires no more than a heavy-duty extension cord to connect the truck to the power pedestal. Newer models of trucks have shore power-ready connections built into their electrical systems. Many new trucks can be spec’d and factory-installed with an AC-powered, or compatible, HVAC system. There is also a long list of AC-powered compatible HVAC systems available on the aftermarket.
Shorepower Technologies prices its service at $1 an hour (which includes cable TV). That compares favorably to the $4 a gallon of diesel fuel it takes to idle a truck for an hour. In addition, idling a truck adds to wear on the engine, resulting in higher maintenance and repair expenses, the company said.
Another part of the STEP program, administered by Cascade Sierra Solutions, provides equipment purchase rebates up to 20% (or a maximum amount, depending on the product category) of the installed cost for approved equipment that can operate on electrical connections or battery power. The rebates are available for up to 25 vehicles per fleet; interested owners and fleet operators must apply in advance for approval. More information about the rebate program is available at the CSS website, www.cascadesierrasolutions.org or by calling 541-302-0900.
Shorepower Technologies
www.shorepower.com
