Kenworth Clean Power Technology Features 'Green' No-Idle System For Big Rigs That Helps Reduce Emissions, Saves Fuel

--A new “green” system for big rigs that may help revolutionize the trucking industry will visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 19, as part of a national, 5-month tour by Kenworth Truck Company, a leading truck manufacturer in Kirkland, Wash.

The media is invited to view the new Kenworth Clean Power™ no-idle system. Members of Congress and their staffs have also been invited. The system is installed in the bright green Kenworth T660 tour truck, which will be parked on Maryland Ave. S.W. (near First Ave. S.W. and across from the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory) from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.

Truckers typically idle their truck’s engine when parked overnight to cool or heat the sleeper. Every idling hours burns about one gallon of diesel fuel. The typical on-highway truck idles 1,800 hours annually for an additional cost of $5,400 at $3 per gallon. Idling also generates engine emissions and noise.

Kenworth Clean Power saves fuel and may enhance fuel economy by as much as 8% for trucks with high idling times, while also reducing noise from idling. The system’s four dedicated, advanced deep-cycle batteries power a thermal storage cooler with 21,000 BTUs of cooling capacity. Once the truck is shut off, a thermostat regulates the desired temperature and a variable speed fan circulates chilled air through a duct in the truck’s sleeper. When the outside temperature is as high as 95 degrees, extensive testing has shown that the system is able to keep the sleeper cool and provide accessory power for up to 10 hours.

A Kenworth Clean Power video is at www.kenworth.com.

H.R. 139 (Idle Reduction Tax Credit Act of 2007) sponsored by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, has been referred to the House Ways & Means Committee. The bill proposes a tax credit for the purchase of idle reduction equipment outfitted in commercial diesel trucks.