The Flying J Travel Plaza at I-5, Exit 485 in Lodi, CA is now offering electrified truck parking as part of the federally-funded Shorepower Truck Electrification Project (STEP), which is deploying plug-in pedestals at more than 50 truck stops across the country, with a completion goal of year-end.
Pilot/Flying J will provide five such sites in the state of California before the end of 2012, including Lodi. Each is intended to help reduce diesel emissions in local communities while helping drivers reduce fuel costs during rest periods.
The dedication of the Lodi plug-in site on August 9 featured its first STEP customer, Veritable Vegetable, an organic produce distributor based in San Francisco. Veritable Vegetable was recently presented with Fleet Owner’s Green Fleet of the Year Award. Among other initiatives, the company has implemented plug-in technology for its trucks and refrigerated trailers as part of its commitment to reduce fuel consumption and improve local air quality.
STEP is a partnership between Shorepower Technologies and Cascade Sierra Solutions to provide a network of plug-in locations on major freight corridors nationwide, as well as financial incentives to trucking companies and owner/operators purchasing and installing plug-in equipment.
According to Cascade Sierra Solutions, electrified truck parking costs $1 per hour for electricity to heat, cool and power cab appliances such as computers and medical devices, whereas main engine idling can cost nearly $4 an hour in fuel--plus maintenance costs. Idling a heavy-duty truck engine consumes approximately one gallon of diesel fuel per hour, and can account for as much as 50% of a truck engine's run time.
