The total budget for the projects is more than $550,000. This includes grants to Caterpillar and Schneider National, along with at least 50 percent cost sharing from each company. The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory will oversee the projects. Caterpillar, located in Peoria, Ill., is a leading producer of diesel and natural gas engines. The company received the DOE grant for the project, "Demonstration of the New MorElectric Technology as an Idle Reduction Solution." According to Caterpillar, the project will demonstrate the potential idle reduction benefits of Caterpillar's new MorElectric technology for heating, ventilating, and cooling truck cabs in five test trucks. The project runs through Sept. 30, 2005.
Schneider National, located in Green Bay, Wis., is a top truckload carrier in the United States. Schneider National received the grant for the project, "Cab Heating and Cooling." According to the company, the project will demonstrate cab heating and cooling and engine-off technologies. The project will run through January 2005.