May 23, 2000 8:00 AM, EDT

ATRI Evaluates Mobile Idle Reduction Technologies

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he American Transportation Research Institute said it selected three project teams to evaluate mobile idle reduction technologies on heavy-duty trucks.

Project teams will be lead by trucking companies Diversified Transfer and Storage, National Freight Inc., and Schneider National Inc, ATRI said.

DTS will evaluate an auxiliary power unit manufactured by RigMaster Power Corporation, while NFI will evaluate a Teleflex Energy Systems APU. Schneider will evaluate two air conditioning systems, including a 12-volt Bergstrom system and a Webasto thermal storage system, which will be operated in conjunction with a Webasto cab heater.

The demonstration is being funded as part of a grant program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, ATRI said.

As part of the effort, the institute said companies will document engine idle times with and without the use of the idle reduction technologies.