OTTAWA, Ont. – Natural Resources Canada will subsidize anti-idling technology as part of a $1 billion package for implementation of the Climate Change Plan for Canada. The federal government recently signed an environmental awareness agreement with the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

The program includes Energy Efficient Technologies anti-idling devices, as well as a comprehensive plan to study the benefits of biodiesel. Through NRCan’s FleetSmart program, the government will offer trucking fleets rebates of up to 19 per cent to a maximum of $350 on a cab-heater or a/c unit, and up to $1,400 on auxiliary power generators as alternatives to idling. Such options could include direct-fired heaters (heating only) or auxiliary power units – costs of which can from $2,250 to $11,250 per unit.

“CTA applauds the Government of Canada for developing financial incentives to accelerate the introduction of such technology into the marketplace,” said CTA CEO David Bradley in a press release. “It will be interesting to see how the market reacts to determine if the level of incentive is sufficient to attract new buyers of this technology.”

Other plans contained in the announcement include: extensive research into the properties and standards of biodiesel, as well as a pilot project to explore truck-stop electrification. However, the technology requires truck stop infrastructure investment prior to trucking fleets equipping vehicles to utilize such technology.