If you’ve found yourself shaking your head at how much it has cost to pay for a tank of diesel over the past year, you’re not alone. After hitting record fuel prices this summer, we’re finally getting some relief at the pump with prices on a downward trajectory. Still, the nationwide average per gallon remains above what it was this time last year, and certainly higher than what it was during the peak of the pandemic.
Its impact on operating costs has many fleets looking for solutions to reduce fuel consumption. Typically, those conversations start with specifications to improve the aerodynamics of the truck and trailer, powertrain performance, tires, coaching drivers to optimize fuel economy, and more. Rarely do they begin with alternatives to reduce or eliminate idle time, especially during a driver’s downtime to help power onboard electronics.
Did you know, a typical long-haul truck idles about 1,800 hours per year, consuming about 1,500 gallons of diesel? Considering idling burns roughly .08 gallons of fuel per hour, you can do the math on how much that’s currently adding up to be. Not to mention the wear and tear idling has on powertrain components, which the American Trucking Association estimates adds $2,000 per truck in maintenance costs annually.
While idling adds to operating costs, there is also increasing pressure from state and federal agencies to significantly reduce emissions caused by idling.
Cutting idle time by switching to alternative methods to power electronics and HVAC systems can significantly reduce operating costs over time and help trucks reduce emissions and stay compliant with local laws.
Many fleets are already using Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) to reduce engine runtime, maintenance and fuel usage – either through diesel APUs or ones that are battery/electric (EPUs) to power cooling and heating systems. Diesel APUs practically eliminate truck engine idling for hotel loads, but still require some fuel and maintenance themselves, although much less than idling the truck engine. EPUs do not require maintenance or fuel but do auto-start the truck from time to time when the batteries need to be recharged.
Inverters, which convert DC power to AC power, are widely used to power onboard electronics like CPAP machines, refrigerators, TVs, etc., but unless you’re connected to shore power, it isn’t an ideal way to power heating and cooling systems. Shore power provides unlimited power, but that isn’t always an option along a driver’s route, let alone finding a vacant space at a truck stop that does offer it. AC or DC heating and cooling systems draw a lot of power and can require multiple batteries to keep up.
