'Idle reduction' is type of
automobile emissions control aimed at reducing the amount of energy wasted by an idling vehicle. When a vehicle's
engine is not being used to move the vehicle, it can be shut off entirely—thereby conserving fuel and reducing emissions—while other functions like accessories and lighting are powered by an electrical source other than the
alternator.
Idle reduction is particularly significant for vehicles in heavy traffic and trucks at
truck stops.
[1] Many
hybrid electric vehicles employ idle reduction to achieve better
fuel economy in traffic. America's fleet of around 2 million long-haul trucks
[2] consumes over a billion gallons of diesel fuel per year.
[3] Services such as
IdleAire provide power at truck stops to resting truckers who would otherwise need to continue idling during mandatory breaks.
External links
★
Idle reduction information —
U.S. Department of Energy /
EERE
★
Idle-Free Corridors —
United States Environmental Protection Agency