Big Truckers Go Green with Help of Eaton, Idleaire

2/3/04 - PITTSBURGH, PA - Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced that its strategic partnership with IdleAire Technologies has helped the trucking industry improve air quality across America by reducing diesel emissions by about 11,500 metric tons.

"The environmental impact of this partnership is no idle promise, particularly as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to push for regulations that drive down permissible emissions," said Randy Carson, senior vice president, Eaton's electrical business. "Anyone who has been to a truck stop has seen the rows and rows of big rigs idling in the parking lots."

The 11,500 metric tons represents more than one million hours of use of IdleAire's system. To put this diesel emission number in perspective, the California Air Resources Board estimated that 25,678 metric tons of diesel exhaust particles were emitted into California's Air in 2002. The Board also indicated that on-road mobile resources (including heavy duty trucks) contribute about 23% of total diesel exhaust particle emissions in California.

Emissions from the estimated 270,000 parking spaces at commercial travel centers across the U.S. are estimated to be more than 14.5 million metric tons each year. What's more, engine idling consumes about 1.4 billion gallons of diesel gasoline annually, costing the trucking industry more than $2 billion.

While taking rest stops, many truck drivers idle their engines in order to use their heating and cooling units, entertainment systems and other in-cab amenities. According to Argonne National Laboratories, a single truck idling a typical 2,600 hours per year generates 0.468 tons of gaseous pollution and 0.05 tons of particulate pollution each year.

Eaton and IdleAire formed this strategic partnership to provide advanced truck stop electrification systems that include innovative delivery of climate control (heating and cooling), entertainment and communications services to truck drivers during rest stops. With the IdleAire system installed in a truck parking space, drivers can shut off their engines and continue to use their climate control systems as well as other in-cab amenities.

The truck stop electrification systems include Eaton's Cutler-Hammer branded automation, power distribution and control products. In addition, Eaton provides structural, civil, and electrical engineering services along with startup and commissioning through its engineering services and systems automation specialists.

The 656 active IdleAire spaces operate in New York, California, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. Another 60 spaces are under construction in Texas, with an estimated additional 2,500 in the planning stages in various states.

In the electrical industry, Eaton is a global leader in electrical control, power distribution, and industrial automation products and services. Through advanced product development, world-class manufacturing methods, and global engineering services and support, Eaton's electrical business provides customer-driven solutions under brand names such as Cutler-Hammer®, Powerware®, Durant®, Heinemann®, Holec® and MEM®, which globally serve the changing needs of the industrial, utility, light commercial, residential, and OEM markets. For more information, visit www.eatonelectrical.com.

Eaton Corporation is a global diversified industrial manufacturer with 2002 sales of $7.2 billion that is a leader in fluid power systems; electrical power quality, distribution and control; automotive engine air management and fuel economy; and intelligent drivetrain systems for fuel economy and safety in trucks. Eaton has 51,000 employees and sells products in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

IdleAire is a technology and engineering company dedicated to improving the working environment for long-haul truck drivers. ATE technology offers a quiet, efficient, cost-effective alternative to extended engine idling. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., and operates a professional engineering and testing facility at this location.

Contact
Don Alles, Eaton - Truck Group (269) 342-3311