Idling vehicles uses up to several billion gallons of fuel and emits large quantities of air pollution and greenhouse gases each year. Idle reduction technologies and practices are an important way to cut petroleum consumption and emissions. Idle reduction is typically used to describe technologies and practices that reduce the amount of time heavy-duy trucks idle their engines. However, light- and medium-duty vehicles and school buses can benefit from idle reduction strategies as well. Reducing idle time saves fuel, engine wear, and money while reducing emissions and noise.A variety of technologies are employed to reduce this fuel use. Onboard equipment such as automatic engine stop-start controls and auxiliary power units can be used wherever the vehicle might be. Truck stop electrification enables trucks to hook up to stations that provide power and other amenities.Additional strategies are available for light- and medium-duty vehicles and school buses. See the presentations from Virginia Clean Cities’ March 19th Idle Reduction meeting to learn more about idling and ways in which you can reduce it within your fleet operations.
Current Virginia Clean Cities Idle Reduction Projects
The Middle Peninsula Clean School Bus Project has an idle reduction component. Currently, Virginia Clean Cities is putting $50,000 to fund an Idle Reduction pilot program in Virginia Beach and Gloucester County, Va school systems. The installations of 25 fuel operated heaters in 25 school buses are in progress and will be ready to eliminate idling at various schools in Virginia Beach and Gloucester by the Fall of 2010. Fuel Operated Heaters replace the need to idle diesel engines by using 1/16th of the amount of fuel it takes to idle, by heating the engines coolant fluid, which then heat the engines and passenger compartments inside the bus. This project includes an educational outreach program on anti-idling lead by Ryan Cornett. VCC’s new intern, Jamison Walker, will be working with Roger Kelly and Robert Clinebell, Gloucester County and Virginia Beach school systems’ transportation directors, respectively, on data acquisition and analysis of fuel and cost savings produced by the heaters. A final report of the results of the program will be available in the Spring of 2011, though, analysis will continue on for years to come and set as a standard for other schools to follow.
Idle Reduction Resources
Below are presentations by our Idle Reduction experts at Argonne National Lab and a representative of one of the leading idle reduction manufacturers, supplying our program’s heaters:
Idle Reduction, Related Legislation, and Funding Opportunities at the National and State Level
Terry M. Levinson
Argonne National Laboratory Presentation
How Do Idling Reduction Technologies Compare?
Dr. Linda Gaines
Argonne National Laboratory Presentation
Webasto
Paul Baczewski
Webasto Products North America, Inc. Presentation
The National Idling Reduction Network brings together trucking and transit companies, railroads, equipment manufacturers, local, state and federal government agencies (including regulators), and national research laboratories to identify consistent, workable solutions to heavy vehicle idling for the entire United States. Download past newsletters at the following site or email us if you would like to be added to their mailing list. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/resources/fcvt_national_idling.html
Idle Reduction and Efficiency
What is Idle Reduction?
Idling vehicles uses up to several billion gallons of fuel and emits large quantities of air pollution and greenhouse gases each year. Idle reduction technologies and practices are an important way to cut petroleum consumption and emissions. Idle reduction is typically used to describe technologies and practices that reduce the amount of time heavy-duy trucks idle their engines. However, light- and medium-duty vehicles and school buses can benefit from idle reduction strategies as well. Reducing idle time saves fuel, engine wear, and money while reducing emissions and noise.A variety of technologies are employed to reduce this fuel use. Onboard equipment such as automatic engine stop-start controls and auxiliary power units can be used wherever the vehicle might be. Truck stop electrification enables trucks to hook up to stations that provide power and other amenities.Additional strategies are available for light- and medium-duty vehicles and school buses. See the presentations from Virginia Clean Cities’ March 19th Idle Reduction meeting to learn more about idling and ways in which you can reduce it within your fleet operations.
The information above was obtained from the Alternative Fuels Data Center, which is a great technical resource on all alternative fuels and vehicles. Source link: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/idle_reduction.html
Current Virginia Clean Cities Idle Reduction Projects
The Middle Peninsula Clean School Bus Project has an idle reduction component. Currently, Virginia Clean Cities is putting $50,000 to fund an Idle Reduction pilot program in Virginia Beach and Gloucester County, Va school systems. The installations of 25 fuel operated heaters in 25 school buses are in progress and will be ready to eliminate idling at various schools in Virginia Beach and Gloucester by the Fall of 2010. Fuel Operated Heaters replace the need to idle diesel engines by using 1/16th of the amount of fuel it takes to idle, by heating the engines coolant fluid, which then heat the engines and passenger compartments inside the bus. This project includes an educational outreach program on anti-idling lead by Ryan Cornett. VCC’s new intern, Jamison Walker, will be working with Roger Kelly and Robert Clinebell, Gloucester County and Virginia Beach school systems’ transportation directors, respectively, on data acquisition and analysis of fuel and cost savings produced by the heaters. A final report of the results of the program will be available in the Spring of 2011, though, analysis will continue on for years to come and set as a standard for other schools to follow.
Idle Reduction Resources
Below are presentations by our Idle Reduction experts at Argonne National Lab and a representative of one of the leading idle reduction manufacturers, supplying our program’s heaters:
Idle Reduction, Related Legislation, and Funding Opportunities at the National and State Level
Terry M. Levinson
Argonne National Laboratory
Presentation
How Do Idling Reduction Technologies Compare?
Dr. Linda Gaines
Argonne National Laboratory
Presentation
Webasto
Paul Baczewski
Webasto Products North America, Inc.
Presentation
Watch the new YouTube video created by Webasto and http://www.makealeap.org/
Visit the DOE Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center for more information on Idle Reduction. Link:http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/idle_reduction.html
The Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative is a great resource for reducing emissions from diesel engines. Visit their site here: http://www.dieselmidatlantic.org/diesel/index.htm
The National Idling Reduction Network brings together trucking and transit companies, railroads, equipment manufacturers, local, state and federal government agencies (including regulators), and national research laboratories to identify consistent, workable solutions to heavy vehicle idling for the entire United States. Download past newsletters at the following site or email us if you would like to be added to their mailing list.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/resources/fcvt_national_idling.html