Volvo Trucks North America has been chosen to participate in a demonstration of mobile idle reduction technology (MIRT) systems for heavy-duty trucks. These systems can reduce the amount of time trucks idle
to provide power for cab heating or air conditioning, thus reducing emissions and diesel fuel consumption.
Volvo will partner with the North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in a two-and-a-half-year program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the SmartWay Transport Partnership.
“The trucking industry is under significant environmental and economic pressure to reduce the amount of time trucks idle,” said Matt Kelly, executive director of marketing for Volvo. “Drivers frequently idle to provide power to operate necessary cab comfort systems, such as heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. At the same time, many state or local governments are looking to reduce diesel emissions. And truck fleets are always looking to reduce their fuel costs and engine wear from idling. “With this program, Volvo and its partners are working to provide drivers with an effective and affordable way to run their heaters, air conditioning systems and other driver amenities, while saving fuel and reducing diesel emissions,” Kelly said. “This is a real-world example of how Volvo’s core value of environmental care benefits customers and society.”
As part of the program, Volvo will engineer a cost-effective installation prep kit for MIRT systems. The goal is to design a prep kit that will be installed by Volvo during assembly of the truck, and will be compatible with a number of different MIRTs. Volvo will also verify the MIRT connection to the truck’s shore power system (electrical power provided through a temporary connection to an electrical main).
“By engineering a factory-installed method that accepts different mobile idle-reduction technologies, Volvo will make it easier and less costly for truck buyers to take advantage of the benefits of these components,” said Kelly. “This program should result in a significant reduction in the amount of labor required to install an aftermarket MIRT, as well as a high level of reliability.”
Volvo has agreed to install the prep kits in at least 20 trucks and to assist NCSU in obtaining data on operator and fleet usage of the MIRTs during the program. Volvo’s proprietary Volvo Link two-way satellite communications system will be used for some of the data acquisition. Volvo will also recruit customer fleets to participate in the program and encourage those fleets to join EPA’s SmartWay program. In addition, Volvo and the other companies involved are contributing financially to this program.
