Transportation Initiatives
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Electrified Commercial Transportation Truck Stop Electrification Truck stop electrification (TSE) is an idle reduction technology that allows long-haul truckers to turn off their engines and draw electricity from electrified parking spaces to power their on-board heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) and auxiliaries during mandatory rest periods. A typical truck consumes approximately one gallon of diesel fuel for every hour of idling. In North Carolina alone, this engine idling results in 24 million gallons of fuel use and 10 million tons of CO2 emitted each year. Advanced Energy monitored a TSE installation in 2009-2010 at Big Boy's 66 truck stop in Kenly, N.C. Shorepower Technologies provided power pedestals to electrify 24 parking spaces at the truck stop. Advanced Energy evaluated power pedestal usage with respect to energy savings and emission reductions. To see the results of the study, view our TSE Project Report. For more information visit www.shorepower.com Electric Lift Trucks Advanced Energy has worked with NC utilities to promote the use of electric lift trucks (ELTs) that will help industrial clients achieve cleaner, quieter fork truck operations at lower operating costs. Electric lift trucks offer longer service life, lower annual cost, less maintenance, and are more compact and easily maneuverable than their internal combustion-engine (ICE) counterparts. These vehicles are almost noiseless and produce no noxious gases. The significant cost reduction from using electricity, compared to combustion-based fuel, provides a rapid payback on the initial equipment cost for ELTs. Hybrid Bucket Truck Monitoring Bucket trucks have been identified as excellent candidates for plug-in hybrid technology. The benefits are realized through stop and go driving found in many utility vehicles as well as when the vehicle is using the bucket in electric mode. Operating the bucket using power from stored electricity in the battery (instead of idling) allows for a reduction in noise, harmful emissions and costly diesel fuel. This clean and quiet operation offers additional health and safety benefits when used in high density population centers where bucket trucks are often used. Progress Energy purchased a Dueco plug-in hybrid bucket truck for use in Wake County, N.C. The hybrid propulsion system for this vehicle is supplied by Odyne. Advanced Energy monitored the performance of the vehicle during 2009 using an on-board data logger. This device connected with the vehicle's existing control system and recorded data to allow calculation of fuel economy and kilowatt hours consumed. To see the results of this study, view our Bucket Truck Monitoring Report. For more information visit www.progress-energy.com, www.dueco.com and www.odyne.com. Plug-in Electric Transit Buses Mass transit buses exhibit several characteristics which make this mode of transportation a promising candidate for plug-in (hybrid and all-electric) vehicle technology, such as frequent starts and stops, defined routes, centralized vehicle management, and numerous chances for recharging. Primary charging can occur at bus stations during driver breaks and overnight, and there is the potential to extend vehicle range through opportunity charging at designated bus stops. Advanced Energy investigated available plug-in transit bus technologies and evaluated barriers and best practices for their widespread use. The findings of this investigation are found in Advanced Energy’s Transit Bus Technology Feasibility Study. |
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