Eaton Gets $65-Million Contract from IdleAire

Eaton Corp. has received a $65-million contract from IdleAire Technologies Corp. for a system that eliminates most diesel truck idling at truckstops. This advancement provides immediate and long-term improvements in air quality and fuel conservation.

Eaton's Power Truss system, a key component of IdleAire's ATE Advanced Travel Center Electrification system, will be deployed at 210 truckstops and fleet terminals nationwide that are planned during the next 12 months.
IdleAire's system equips long-haul drivers with substitute power so they can turn off their diesel engines during required rest stops, eliminating 100 percent of idling emissions. IdleAire said a truck using its system consistently for one year would save 3,366 gallons of fuel. The benefits of this technology increase exponentially when all long-haul trucks use the system, IdleAire said, resulting in a potential savings of 4.4 billion gallons each year.
The IdleAire system also improves a truck driver's work environment by delivering filtered in-cab heating and air conditioning, and power for communications, entertainment (Internet and television) and training.
"With escalating fuel costs, tightening emissions requirements and highway safety issues, our partnership with IdleAire yields an immediate and long-term solution to the trucking industry that addresses air quality, fuel conservation and training issues," said Randy Carson, Eaton senior vice president and president - Electrical Group.
Eaton has been a key design partner with IdleAire and co-developed the Power Truss system that distributes electrical power to each individual truck parking space. In this initial nationwide deployment, Eaton's Power Truss system will energize more than 13,200 parking spaces that are planned.
In January, IdleAire announced the completion of $320 million in financing to fund its first major growth phase. IdleAire said it has obtained agreements for drivers' use of the IdleAire system from more than 1,500 fleets in the United States and Canada, representing significant growth opportunities across North America beyond the initial 15-month deployment.
"Our ability to complete this financing speaks volumes about the strength of our business model as well as our confidence in strategic partners like Eaton," said Mike Crabtree, chief executive officer of IdleAire Technologies Corp. "Eaton has the manufacturing and engineering size, scale and expertise to support this exciting growth stage for our company."