Four sites in four states have joined the growing list of truckstops with electrification technology. The four truck stops are the latest among 50 along major freight corridors that are receiving plug-in-power installations through the federally funded Shorepower Truck Electrification Project (STEP), administered jointly by Shorepower Technologies and Cascade Sierra Solutions.
The new locations are:
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Southern Pride Truck Plaza at Exit 16 on I-24 at Paducah, Ky.
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Big Easy Travel Plaza at Exit 239 on I-10 in New Orleans.
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The Tennessean Truck Stop at Exit 22 on I-65 in Cornersville, Tenn.
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The I-40 Travel Center at Exit 35 on I-40 in Ozark, Ark.
Each of the sites has 24 truck parking spaces where drivers can plug in their vehicles to operate heating, air conditioning and cab appliances.
“As the trucking industry becomes more familiar with the benefits and ease of use of plug-in power, drivers and fleets are going to be asking for this service,” said Bob Arnold, president of Max Arnold & Sons LLC, owner and operator of Southern Pride Truck Plaza. “We want to be ready to provide the latest technology to help our customers do their jobs and save money. Our goal is to achieve customer satisfaction through excellence in products and services. Adding plug-in power is one more way of fulfilling that mission.”
Shorepower Technologies now operates about 20 plug-in sites; the 50 truck stops to be added under the STEP program are to be in operation by the end of 2012.
As part of the STEP program, equipment-purchase incentives are being made available through Cascade Sierra Solutions to about 5,000 vehicle owners who commit to using the hook-ups to reduce engine idling. So far, the rebate portion of the STEP project has resulted in 20 equipment manufacturers benefitting through more than $7 million in rebates leveraging over $35 million in product sales, Shorepower said.
Rebates are still available for approved battery operated HVAC systems, which were allocated the largest number of rebates. The list of eligible systems can be found at Cascade Sierra Solutions’ website. Free connector kits are also available for fleets and independent vehicle owners. Details on the program can be found at www.cascadesierrasolutions.org.
