![]() Other vehicles, including police, military, service trucks, news vans, fire trucks, ambulances, and hydraulic bucket trucks can be equipped with mobile power idle reduction systems, similar to a rechargeable battery. These can be battery or fuel powered but in either case, use less fuel, do no harm to the vehicle's engine, and reduce or eliminate emissions. There are other technologies that can reduce the use of fuel to heat or cool the cab when the vehicle is traditionally idling overnight. Each year, long-duration idling of truck and locomotive engines emits 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 200,000 tons of oxides of nitrogen, and 5,000 tons of particulate matter into the air. When a vehicle's engine is not being used to move the vehicle, it can be shut off entirely - thereby conserving fuel and reducing emissions- while other functions like accessories and lighting are powered by an electrical source other than the vehicle's alternator. Idle reduction equipment is aimed at reducing the amount of energy wasted by idling trucks, rail locomotives or automobiles. An idling engine consumes only enough power to keep itself and its accessories running, therefore, producing no usable power to the drive train.įor cargo ships, the need to run the ship's engines for power in port is eliminated by techniques collectively described as cold ironing. Avoiding idling time has a multitude of benefits including: savings in fuel and maintenance costs, extending vehicle life, and reducing damaging emissions. These kits are the first step to a game changer across the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet in not only decreasing fuel demand, but also bringing new capability in the form of increased electrical power.Idle reduction describes technologies and practices that minimize the amount of time drivers idle their engines. Their industry connections and contracting flexibilities greatly shortens the time to bring capability to the Warfighter. PEO CS&CSS' Project Lead, Integration Steve Roberts, said "The collaboration between DIU and PEO CS&CSS is proving to be invaluable. Upon demonstration and evaluation of those prototypes, the companies will be asked to develop and deliver a retrofit kit for fielding and easy installation by Soldiers operating at logistics depots and motor pools across the force.īeyond the fuel savings to be gained from the introduction of anti-idle capability, PEO CS&CSS also sees this as a step toward further hybridization and electrification efforts. In August, PM TS and DIU issued awards to two companies, XL Fleet and Volta Power Systems, to integrate their respective commercial solutions into prototype idle-reduction FMTVs. For years, commercial long-haul, utility, and emergency trucking fleets have been converting their existing trucks into hybrid and full electric vehicles to save money and reduce emissions. This challenge and opportunity are not unique to the military. "This also promises to reduce the amount of fuel that must be transported into combat zones, reducing the demand on, and risk to, logistics supply chains." "By integrating an anti-idle capability into our existing fleet of tactical vehicles, the DoD has the opportunity to meaningfully reduce fuel consumption by its operational forces, enabling them to operate longer between refueling," said Ben Richardson, DIU's Advanced Energy & Materials Portfolio Director. This results in significant fuel consumption while the vehicle idles. ![]() However, even when stationary, the engines must remain running in order to power their essential onboard electronics, as well as their crew compartments’ heating and cooling systems. ![]() These vehicles often spend as much of their operational time stationary as they do in motion. military operates a fleet of more than a quarter million tactical vehicles, which frequently operate in austere conditions. The effort will initially focus on integrating an idle-reduction capability in the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), the Army's standard two-and-a-half to 10-ton trucks. Army’s Project Manager Transportation Systems (PM TS), part of Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS), has partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to prototype a hybrid conversion kit for tactical vehicles.
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