As temperatures heat up for the summer, truckers will have more places to plug in and stay cool. Shorepower Technologies has announced seven more truckstops added electric plug-in power pedestals to their locations from March to mid-June.

The seven truckstops are located in Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington state. The truckstops offer truck operators and fleets more than 140 truck parking spaces with power connections. Five of the seven locations are also offering connections providing 480-volt power for hybrid refrigerated trailers.

Shorepower Technologies is also offering a try-it-free offer for new users. The first night is free with any new registration. For more information, call 888-841-3137 or visit shorepowerconnect.com. Be sure to use the promo code - SPTNEW1. The free night offer is for new customers and is valid for cab power only.

Below is a full list of the seven truckstops now offering shorepower for trucks and 480-volt power for hybrid refrigerated trailers:

Flying J - Elkton, Md. - 24 plugs-ins and five refrigeration unit connections (480V)
Detroiter Travel Center - Woodhaven, Mich. - 24 plugs-ins and six refrigeration unit connections (480-volt power).
Champlain Truck Center - Champlain, N.Y. - 24 plug-ins and two refrigeration unit connections (480V)
21B Travel Plaza - West Coxsackie, N.Y. - 24 plug-ins and six refrigeration unit connections (480V).
Flying J Travel Plaza - Dallas, Texas - 12 plug-ins.
Flying J - Ruther Glen, Va. - 24 plug-ins and five refrigeration unit connections (480V)
George Truck Stop - George, Wash.  12 plug-ins.  

“While this summer is not expected to be as hot as the last three, forecasters are still expecting temperatures in the southern and western United States to be higher than normal,” said Alan Bates, vice president of marketing for Shorepower Technologies. “Truckers who are looking for ways to stay cool this summer without idling their truck engines or running diesel-powered APUs, shore power can offer an alternative. Shore power can also help truckers with battery-powered APUs get a full rest in cool comfort without worrying whether the batteries can keep up with the draw of the air conditioner. It's a perfect compliment to a battery system.

“From late December 2012 through early June 2013, we electrified 13 travel plazas as part of STEP (Shorepower Truck Electrification Project -- a DOE-funded program),” Bates said. “With these seven locations now up and running, we’ve completed the installation of 50 locations funded by the Department of Energy.”

But Shorepower doesn’t plan to stop there, Bates said. “We’ve been installing pedestals at 13 locations beyond the STEP project. While we currently have 63 sites in 30 states with 1,800 electrified parking spaces, our goal is to build and operate a total of 250 locations with 10,000 electrified parking spaces in the next five years.”

Even if you don't have a shore power-compatible APU or integrated HVAC system, a heavy-duty 12-gauge or larger extension cord and a 110-volt alternating current (AC) air conditioning unit is all you need to stay cool, Bates said. Adding a power strip can let you power other personal appliances, a laptop or a microwave.  Shorepower’s pedestals provide access to 120-volt or 208-volt power sources, at a rate of $1 per hour, with cable TV available at a number of locations.

Fleets and owner-operators can also tell Shorepower Technologies where they want power by filling out a quick poll on the shorepowerconnect.com web site.