You may be fined hundreds or even thousands of dollars for idling as little as 3-5 minutes. The idea of limiting engine noise and emissions at loading docks and truck stops is fine — but you can’t freeze or swelter, especially when CDL regulations mandate minimum uninterrupted sleep periods.

One of the main reasons commercial vehicles commonly idle is to provide drivers with climate control comfort, as running engines keep HVAC systems operating in hot and cold weather, while providing electricity for appliances such as refrigerators, televisions, and microwaves.

Idle Reduction Technology (IRT) experts believe much of the idling done by commercial vehicles can be eliminated through equipment technology. In addition to automatic engine shut-down/start-up systems, a compact electricity technology like EnerGenie’s lithium battery energy storage can provide the operator with climate control and auxiliary power without having to idle the main engine. This compact, on-board technology will keep commercial truck drivers compliant AND comfortable without relying on smelly, loud, and emission-heavy diesel generators that defeat the purpose of no-idle restrictions.

According to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), interest in solar panels is growing among fleet managers because the main truck batteries are often no longer able to meet the power needs of today’s trucks due to increased driver comfort demands and new idle-reduction legislation.

Solar panels designed for the trucking industry are almost all flexible, thin, lightweight, and capable of being affixed to the curves of a tractor fairing.

The main use of solar on commercial trucks is to support battery HVAC systems and hotel loads without batteries. Solar panels can extend the runtime of battery HVAC systems, not only to help the HVAC system make it through the night without draining the truck’s batteries, but also to reduce the load on the alternator the next morning, resulting in fuel savings. Solar panels can augment the energy coming from the truck batteries and maintain the batteries at a higher state of charge extending the battery life and increasing driver comfort by allowing hotel loads to operate for longer periods of time.

Solar technology for trucks has progressed to the point where the panels on the market are flexible, thin, easily installed, and reliable. Some use cases are an excellent application of the technology and should be strongly considered for future purchases, while for other applications the cost vs. benefits should be evaluated to see if it makes sense in the specific application.

RECHARGE WHILE VEHICLE IS IDLE
For mobile applications like commercial trucks operating under ever-restrictive no-idle regulations, your off-the-grid battery storage unit may be recharged from the running vehicle. Additionally, a secondary alternator can be added, depending on how fast they want to charge the EnerGenie, allowing you to charge while your vehicle is either idle or driving.

SOLAR ON YOUR ROOFTOP
Installing a rooftop solar panel or panels dramatically enhances your stored power capability with the appropriate charge controller. It’s easy, too! During the day when there is some sunshine, rooftop solar on the vehicle can harvest energy, while driving or idling will also charge the battery.

When the vehicle engine is turned off and plugged to shore power, the solar panels will harvest power. Finally, when the vehicle is idling at the beginning of the day before driving away to warm work vehicles, you may combine three sources (idling, solar harvesting, and plug-to-shore power) into the EnerGenie — but make sure you unplug the shore power line before driving away.

SMALLER AND LIGHTER
Compared with a diesel generator of comparable output, the EnerGenie stored power battery would usually weigh less. Of course, this depends on factors such as brand and fuel tank capacity. For instance, a generator with fuel consumption from 1 gallon/hr. to 1.5 gallon/hr. (depending on the load size), the gas-guzzling diesel generator will be much heavier with worse run-time-per-gallon compared to the EnerGenie commercial truck lithium battery backup.

EnerGenie will also take up a smaller footprint vs. a diesel generator with a similar power output. In fact, a 12V-10.2 diesel could be three to four times the size of the EnerGenie and at least twice the weight.