PORTLAND, Ore. -- Truckers traveling through Nebraska and Iowa now have three more locations at which they can plug in to inexpensive grid power, instead of idling their engines, to run in-cab comfort and convenience appliances when they stop for the night.
Shorepower Technologies, which is building a national network of truckstops with parking spaces equipped with plug-in power, said its service has been added at:
- Sapp Bros. Travel Center, at Exit 440 on I-80, Omaha, Neb.
- Broadway Flying J, at Exit 144 on I-35, Williams, Iowa.
- Shoemaker's Shell Travel Center, at Exit 395 on I-80, Lincoln, Neb.
The three sites join more than a dozen locations already in operation as Shorepower deploys plug-in power to truckstops on major freight corridors. Through the federally funded Shorepower Truck Electrification Project (STEP), administered by Shorepower Technologies and Cascade Sierra Solutions, 50 truckstops will add plug-in power pedestals this year.
"Our goal has long been to build a true network of locations so truckers can make regular use of plug-in power on their journeys," said Alan Bates, vice president of marketing with Shorepower Technologies. "Adding these three great travel centers in a crucial transportation hub like the Midwest puts us closer to that goal."
Shoemaker's has added 36 truck parking spaces with electrical connections, while Sapp Bros. in Omaha and Broadway Flying J have each added 24.
Truck drivers need only a heavy-duty extension cord to connect their vehicles to the plug-in pedestals. The 110/208v service is priced at $1 an hour, and cable TV is included at the Sapp Bros location in Omaha, and will be shortly at Shoemakers. Sapp Bros also offers plug ins for three-phase power (460v/230v) for trailer transport refrigeration units (TRUs) with electric standby capabilities – the first truck stop in the country to provide this service.
Access and payment can be handled with a credit card, gift card, smartphone, laptop or toll-free customer service hotline.
By plugging in to grid power, drivers can still operate heating and air conditioning systems and use in-cab appliances such as microwaves and TVs without the air pollution and noise of idling. They also save money in the short and long run, since plug-in power costs much less than idling and reduces wear and tear on the engine that adds to maintenance and repair bills. In addition, many states and local jurisdictions are limiting or banning idling.
"Our Omaha location, built in 1971, was our first location, and it seems fitting that it is the first location of ours to put in plug-in power," said Dan Adams, vice president of operations for Sapp Bros. Travel Centers Inc. "We view plug-in power as another benefit to our customers, a way to save them money and help them to be more efficient. Trucking companies need to cut expenses, just like every other business. We want to help them do that."
"We think of ourselves as good corporate citizens, and offering an idle-reduction service helps us fulfill that mission for drivers, for fleet operators and for communities near our travel centers," said Dan Alsaker, owner of Broadway Group. "Plug-in power means drivers can have cab comforts including temperature control without the noise and air pollution of idling.
"The higher the price of diesel fuel gets, the more attractive it is to plug in," he added.
"As business owners, we truly want to improve the environmental impact of the travel center business in ways that are both beneficial and sustainable," said David Shoemaker, co-owner of Shoemaker's Travel Center. "Plug-in power offers us an excellent opportunity to incorporate an alternative energy distribution method into our site, which in turn offers our customers a way to save money. Making this technology available in the Midwest makes it easier for truckers and trucking companies to make the switch to greener practices."
Sapp Bros in Omaha will host a STEP Plug-In Celebration June 12-13, which will feature displays and demonstrations of equipment compatible with plug-in power.
Portland, Ore.-based 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-verified Truck Stop Electrification (TSE), as well as charging stations for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
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