National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Fleet Test & Evaluation

Truck Efficiency

The Fleet Test and Evaluation team is working with industry partners to evaluate truck efficiency technologies in long-haul truck cabs.

To keep their cabs at a comfortable temperature, heavy-duty truck drivers idle their engines an average of 1,400 hours annually, using more than 800 million gallons of fuel each year. With diesel prices at an all-time high, carrier companies are looking into ways to incorporate truck efficiency technologies to eliminate engine idling. By doing so, they not only save money on fuel but reduce tailpipe emissions.

To find ways trucks can be more efficient without idling, the Fleet Test and Evaluation team is researching: