Seminar at Mid-America Trucking Show Provides Updates on Plug-In Power
PORTLAND, Ore., March 6, 2012 – What’s the latest on plug-in power as a money-saving, emission-cutting alternative to truck idling? Which truck stops currently offer plug ins and where are they scheduled to be installed? What do I need to plug in?
Answers to those questions and many more will be available through a seminar and booth information at the Mid-America Trucking Show, to be held March 22-24, 2012, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Cascade Sierra Solutions and Shorepower Technologies will present a seminar, ‘Power of the Plug: Electricity as the Idling Solution,” at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in South Wing Conference Center Room B-104. The seminar is free and does not require advance registration.
The 50-minute presentation, hosted by Kate Miller of Cascade Sierra Solutions and Joe Licari of Shorepower, will cover such topics as the financial and health benefits of cutting idling through the use of truck-stop connections, and the latest information on truck stops equipped with plug-in power pedestals. Attendees will also get the latest information on rebates available for idle-reduction equipment.
‘With diesel prices continuing to climb, idle reduction is an even more timely and important topic for the trucking industry,” said David Orton, communications manager for Cascade Sierra Solutions.
Cascade Sierra Solutions and Shorepower Technologies are collaborating on the federally funded Truck Stop Electrification Project (STEP), through which parking spaces at 50 truck stops on major freight corridors (including Interstates 5, 10, 20, 75, 80, 81, 84, 90 and 95) will be outfitted with plug-in connections providing 120-volt AC power at $1 an hour, joining existing sites offering the service. Many sites will also have higher-voltage connections for trailer refrigeration units.
So far more than a dozen sites in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee, Illinois and New Mexico have plug-in service available; the 50 locations being set up through the STEP program are to be operating by the end of this year.
“The goal is to let the trucking industry know that plug-in power is available now, and can deliver benefits to drivers, fleet operators and communities immediately,” said Orton. ‘With so much of the industry gathered at the Mid-America Trucking Show, truck owners can conveniently get answers to their questions by visiting our exhibit or by attending the Thursday seminar.”
Shorepower Technologies will be giving away pre-paid gift cards allowing drivers to access plug-in power. ‘As we roll out more locations at which drivers can plug in during their rest breaks, the more they see it and know about it the more they’ll want to make it a part of their regular routes and schedules,” said Alan Bates, vice president of marketing at Shorepower.
Cascade Sierra Solutions and Shorepower Technologies will have a booth, 61016 (in the exposition center’s West Wing) at which MATS attendees can get information about plug-in power.
About Cascade Sierra Solutions
Cascade Sierra Solutions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Eugene, Oregon, dedicated to financing, identifying, and promoting the use of clean technologies to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks. Cascade Sierra Solutions works with local clean-air agencies, government entities, and independent truckers and fleets to drive the green trucking revolution across the US and around the world. Visit CSS at CascadeSierraSolutions.org.
About Shorepower Technologies
Shorepower is a transportation electrification infrastructure company offering simple, cost-effective solutions for connecting cars and trucks to the electrical grid. Products and services offered include SmartWay