FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2006 NC Solar Center Partners with Volvo Trucks North America to Demonstrate Mobile Idle Reduction Technologies Raleigh, NC - The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University (NCSU) announced this week that it will partner with Volvo Trucks North America to design and demonstrate a prep platform for mobile idle reduction technologies (MIRTs) to reduce the idling times for long-haul trucks. The NC Solar Center in October 2005 was awarded $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), SmartWay Transport Partnership, for a 2 ½ year project to work with a truck manufacturer to design a prep kit to demonstrate mobile idle reduction technologies (MIRTs) in over-the-road sleeper trucks. More than 500,000 trucks across the country idle their engines to operate equipment for driver amenities, such as the need for air conditioning or heating. Extended idling by commercial trucks represents a significant use of our petroleum resources, consuming more than two billion gallons every year. Currently, about 30 states, counties and cities have adopted regulations to limit the amount of time a commercial vehicle can idle. “We are very pleased that NC State University has the opportunity to partner with Volvo Trucks North America on this important environmental issue,” said Solar Center Transportation Program Manager Anne Tazewell. “Reducing idling by over the road trucks is very important given current fuel prices and air quality concerns.” The main objectives of the MIRT project are to maximize environmental benefits and potential cost savings to fleet operators and to maximize market acceptance of the prep-kit by working with partners to evaluate fuel, maintenance, engine life savings, payback times and potential user reactions. “Volvo and the entire trucking industry are focused on reducing unnecessary idling by trucks, to reduce fuel consumption and to reduce emissions,” said Matt Kelly, executive director – marketing, Volvo Trucks North America. “This partnership will provide additional experience and information about the benefit of these systems. This ultimately will benefit the general public and the trucking industry itself.” Volvo Trucks North America, Greensboro, NC, is part of the Volvo Group, a global leader in the manufacture of trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo is also the largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines in the world. As part of the project, Volvo will partner with fleets to demonstrate MIRTs in more than 20 trucks. Participating fleets will be encouraged to join SmartWay Transport, a partnership between various freight industry sectors and the EPA that encourages fuel efficiency improvements and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. “This project is vital for the trucking industry because reduced fuel consumption from using MIRTs will ultimately mean more money in truckers’ pockets,” Tazewell said. “In addition, Volvo’s experience will give the trucking industry more confidence in idle reduction technologies.” As a truck manufacturer, Volvo is able to integrate the selected MIRTs into its truck production, thereby giving customers a fully engineered and supported product.
Currently, fleets that wish to incorporate idle reduction technologies must find their own aftermarket installer. They also must rely on the MIRT manufacturers for assistance in integrating the systems into trucks or dealing with performance issues. Volvo will demonstrate at least two commercially available MIRT systems. NCSU’s Dr Chris Frey will evaluate MIRT usage and main engine idling times of the 20 participating trucks and conduct benchmark emission testing on the selected technologies. The use of on-board idle reduction technologies is expected to continue and expand into the future. Based on the reported average capital cost for each type of equipment, it is expected that nearly $56 million will be spent on on-board idle reduction technologies over the next five years. For more information on the U.S. EPA/NCSU Mobile Idle Reduction Technology Project, visit: http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/resources_by_sector/clean_transportation_projects.cfm. The NC Solar Center is sponsored by the NC Department of Administration's State Energy Office, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the North Carolina Solar Center Foundation, and is operated by the College of Engineering at NC State University. #### Anne Tazewell Transportation Program Manager NC Solar Center at NC State University (919) 513-7831 anne_tazewell@ncsu.edu