Idling Reduction Equipment Rebate Launched

by Ingrid Phaneuf

RICHMOND, B.C. – The federal government has officially launched a new rebate program for carriers who buy equipment to reduce engine idling.

The $21.3-million Commercial Transportation Energy Efficiency Rebate Program was announced in November at Teleflex in B.C. by the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. The average rebate is expected to be between $350 and $1,400, depending on the type of equipment purchased.

Eligible equipment includes fuel-fired interior heaters, engine coolant heaters with cab interior heating apparatus or auxiliary power generators.

The use of a fuel-fired interior heater could save from 2.2 to 3.7 litres an hour for approximately 1,450 hours each year, which is a GHG reduction of 8.9 to 15.0 tonnes a year. For these products, the Government of Canada will rebate 19 per cent of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) up to a maximum of $350.

Engine coolant heaters with cab interior heating apparatus supply heated air to the cab and heat to circulate the engine coolant. The devices, which are only used for heating, could save up to 3.5 litres an hour, leading to a GHG reduction of 14.2 tonnes a year. The Government of Canada will rebate 19 percent of the MSRP up to a maximum of $350.

Auxiliary power units consist of a small internal combustion engine (running on diesel fuel) equipped for heating and air conditioning, as well as for generating electricity for electrical appliances, battery charging and engine preheating. Since an auxiliary power unit would be in use for most of the year, it is estimated that engine idling would be reduced by 1,840 hours a year. Using this type of unit could save from 3.2 to 3.6 litres an hour, cutting diesel fuel use by 5,888 to 6,624 litres and reducing GHGs by 16.5 to 18.5 tonnes a year. The Government of Canada will rebate 19 percent of the MSRP up to a maximum of $1,400.

In all three cases, to be eligible for this rebate, the equipment must be new and must include a measuring device capable of determining the number of hours of use over a two-year period.

“This program will help our partners in the trucking industry to do their part and contribute to addressing climate change,” said Minister Dhaliwal.

“The rebates that the program offers will help truck drivers reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that result from doing their jobs, while improving their comfort and saving money.”

The Commercial Transportation Energy Efficiency Rebate program is a joint effort between the Government of Canada and the suppliers of qualified equipment. The intent of the program is to reduce the production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by cutting the amount of diesel fuel used in the idling of commercial vehicle engines. The program encourages the use of proven, off-the-shelf technology to reduce idling.

An average truck or bus engine consumes approximately four litres of diesel fuel an hour when idling at a speed of 900 revolutions per minute (rpm). Each litre produces 2.8 kilograms of GHGs, meaning one hour of idling produces 11.2 kilograms of GHGs, which equates to 20.5 tonnes of GHGs annually. Potentially, from 40 to 90 per cent of these GHGs could be eliminated.

“Transportation in Canada is one of the major GHG producers, and that’s understandable given the size of our country. By using equipment that heats, cools and powers truck cabs without running the engine, emissions can be reduced by a remarkable amount,” said Minister Dhaliwal.

“Also, this program, by using the latest technology, will allow us to measure precisely the decrease in GHG emissions.”

This program will help equipment suppliers qualify their products, issue rebates to customers and record the reduction in emissions over a period of 12 to 18 months following the purchase of anti-idling equipment.

Each device installed in a truck will have a chip that will allow for a precise measurement of the difference in the amount of fuel used before and after.

Equipment purchased on or after August 12, 2003, is eligible for this rebate. For further information, call Natural Resources Canada at 613-995-0947 or visit http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2003/2003109_e.htm


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