Presented by Linda Gaines and Patricia Weikersheimer August 29, 2013

1. Idling Reduction for Fleets
and an Introduction To IdleBox
South Shore Clean Cities Webinar
August 29, 2013
Linda Gaines and Patricia Weikersheimer
Center for Transportation Research
Argonne National Laboratory
Clean Cities /
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2. Why Reduce Idling?
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3. Idling Is Expensive
• Idling a car uses up to 0.5 gallon of fuel per hour.
• Idling a medium-duty truck uses 0.4 to 0.6 gallon per
hour.
• Idling a heavy-duty truck uses 0.8 to 1.4 gallons per
•Idling in the U.S. uses more than 6
hour.
billion gallons of fuel at a cost of
more than $20 billion EACH YEAR.
•Idling increases vehicle
maintenance costs.
•Idling can shorten engine life.
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4. Idling Is Expensive, cont.
Scenario: Fleet of 10 medium-duty trucks
If each truck has ten 10-minute idling episodes per
day, using ~0.5 gal/hr, and fuel costs $3.50/gallon,
the annual cost of idled fuel for the fleet is ~$7,550.
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5. Idling Pollutes
•Nationally, 27% of greenhouse gas
emissions come from transportation.
•Each gallon of fuel burned produces
about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, a
greenhouse gas.
•Vehicles also emit NOx, particulates,
and unburned hydrocarbons.
•Pollution from vehicles contributes to
the formation of ground-level ozone.
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6. Approaches To Idling Reduction
Step 1: Raise AWARENESS
Reducing idling saves money and protects
the air.
•Turn off vehicles when not moving.
•Set policy to reduce unnecessary idling.
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7. Step 2: EDUCATE Drivers
Inform your drivers about idling reduction.
•Host an idling reduction workshop for drivers
•Post signs to remind drivers not to idle
•Adopt an idling reduction policy
•Offer incentives/rewards for idling reduction efforts
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8. IdleBox: What Is It?
• An outreach toolkit for
advancing and implementing
idling reduction.
• Geared to light- and mediumduty fleet vehicles.
• Modular, with calculators, fact
sheets, stickers, communication
templates, presentations, and
more.
cleancities.energy.gov/idlebox
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9. Especially Idle Reduction Savings Worksheets
IdleBox Tool: for Fleet Managers:
Calculators
Use Idle Reduction
Savings Worksheets to
estimate your fleet’s
savings with an idling
reduction plan.
▲ Light duty
Medium and heavy duty ►
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10. IdleBox Tools
Fact cards, tip sheets,
stickers, and employee
pledge form
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11. IdleBox Tools, cont.
▲ Sign
▲ Poster
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12. IdleBase: Database of U.S. Idling Laws
cleancities.energy.gov/idlebase
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13. IdleBase, cont.
Sample Entry (Illinois)
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14. If “Just Turn the Key” Isn’t an Option . .
.
Step 3: CONSIDER Technology
Options to provide necessary services
•Engine idle management systems
•Heaters for cab and/or engine block
•Auxiliary power systems
•Electrified parking spaces
•Telematics to identify idling occurrences
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15. Technology To Support Idling Reduction
Engine idle management systems
Idle timer
•Turns engine off after a preset amount of idle
time
Automatic engine shut-down/start-up
system
•Turns engine off and restarts it based on
cabin temperature or battery-charge level
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16. Technology To Support Idling Reduction
Heaters for cab and/or engine
block
•Provide warmth to passenger compartment
•Use little fuel
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17. Technology To Support Idling Reduction
Auxiliary power
systems
Auxiliary power is provided
for:
•Heat
•A/C
•Electronics
•Other devices, including
“power take-off” (PTO)
equipment
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18. Technology To Support Idling Reduction
Electrified parking spaces
(EPS)
May provide:
•Heating/cooling via duct
•Electrical outlets
Single and dual systems
No local emissions
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19. For More Information
A free monthly, electronic newsletter that provides:
• Information about current funding opportunities and recent
awards
• News about changes in ordinances, laws, regulations, and
enforcement
• Alerts about upcoming meetings, events, and other resources
of interest
• Links to idling cost calculators and other idling reduction
resources
www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/resources/fcvt_national_idling.html
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20. Selected Links for Further Information
Information Source
URL
Alternative Fuels Data
Center
http://www.afdc.energy.gov
Argonne National
Laboratory idling reduction
resources
http://www.transportation.anl.gov/engi
nes/idling.html (idling calculators at
http://www.transportation.anl.gov/engi
nes/idling_tools.html)
Clean Cities National Clean
Fleets Partnership
http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancitie
s/national_partnership.html
EPA Clean School Bus
Program
http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/cs
b-overview.htm
EPA SmartWay
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/
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21. Questions?
Work sponsored primarily by the Clean Cities Program,
U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Vehicle
Technologies, to which we offer our thanks.
Contact:
•Linda Gaines lgaines@anl.gov
•Patricia Weikersheimer
IdleBox@anl.gov
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