Plug-in and recharging stations installed at a truckstop in Baker City, Ore., will help truckers save on fuel costs while also reducing the emissions idling vehicles release into the environment. Baker Truck Corral, just off Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon, now is the first of 50 truckstops around the country to be outfitted by Shorepower Technologies in conjunction with Cascade Sierra Solutions through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Twenty-four truck parking spaces at Baker Truck Corral now are equipped with electrical service that will allow drivers to operate heaters, air conditioning systems and appliances in their cabs without having to run the engine. “We’re excited because Shorepower truckstop electrification benefits everyone,” says Jeff Kim, president and chief executive officer of Shorepower Technologies. “Drivers and fleets save money and get improved working conditions, truckstops generate a new source of revenues, and the general public gets cleaner air and less noise.”
The installation is part of the Shorepower Truck Electrification Project in which more than 1,200 electrified parking spaces will be added at 50 truckstops around the country; that will more than double the number of spaces already available. The pedestals provide 120 VAC, 208 VAC or 240 VAC power sources. Power and cable TV access are available at $1 per hour, with wireless Internet available for an additional charge. Access and payment can be handled with a card, smartphone, laptop or telephone activation system.
“Using the power grid as an alternative to idling truck engines immediately puts money back in the pockets of truck owners, reduces air and noise pollution in the community and helps drivers get more restful sleep, which ultimately improves highway safety,” saud Dave Orton, marketing communications manager for Cascade Sierra Solutions, a Eugene, Ore.-based nonprofit organization working with the trucking community on ways to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
