KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — IdleAire Technologies Corporation has opened the first of three Advanced Travel Center Electrification (ATE) system installations planned for Texas in the next several weeks.

The first opened this week at the Travel Centers of America’s (TA) Dallas South Travel Center in Dallas, Texas. A second, at the TA in Baytown, is under construction, and a third, at the TA in San Antonio, is in the pre-construction stages.

Deployment of the system in the Dallas and Baytown locations is expected to eliminate over 4,500 metric tons of air pollution and save nearly 552,000 gallons of fuel annually, according to IdleAire’s COO, David Everhart. The technology deployment is also creating 20 new fulltime jobs at each site.

"Every IdleAire installation improves air quality, creates new local jobs and improves the rest and lifestyle of professional drivers," said Everhart.

The installations are the first in a TA facility since the two companies announced an agreement in June. The company already has installations in New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and California, and has targeted an additional dozen locations to be under construction before the end of the year.

IdleAire’s ATE system, a 2003 R&D 100 Award winner as one of the top 100 technological products introduced in 2002, allows drivers of heavy duty diesel trucks to turn off their engines instead of idling them as they traditionally have during DOT-required rest periods, or while waiting to load or unload. Idling permits drivers to heat or cool the cab and use accessories without depleting the vehicle batteries, but it also contributes to air and noise pollution, fuel consumption and a poor resting environment for drivers.

For more details, visit www.idleaire.com