[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41254-41256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15534]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7783-3]
Truck Stop Electrification Codes and Electrical Standards; Notice
of Data Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of data availability; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: Long-haul truck drivers often idle their engines to provide
heat, air conditioning, or electrical power while they rest in the
sleeper compartment. They may also idle their engines to keep engine
oil and fuel warm in cold weather to avoid engine-starting problems.
This long-duration idling contributes to air pollution and fuel waste.
The President, in his May 2001 National Energy Policy, directed the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of
Transportation (DOT) to develop a program to reduce long-duration truck
engine idling.
EPA recognizes that various technologies, strategies, and behaviors
can effectively reduce long-duration idling while providing the truck
driver with essential needs such as heat or air conditioning. One such
technology is known as ``truck stop electrification'' (TSE). TSE allows
the electrical grid to supply power to truck on-board components or
stationary components for heating, cooling and other needs.
As an emerging technology, TSE requires installing stationary
infrastructure to allow the electrical grid to provide power to the
truck. In some TSE configurations, the truck is equipped with on-board
components; in other cases, the truck needs no on-board modifications.
As TSE has gained popularity, the need for greater government-industry
cooperation has become apparent. Several truck and engine manufacturers
have TSE truck designs, and two TSE technology manufacturers have
deployed stationary technology at several locations. Standardizing TSE
technology is a concern for the long-haul trucking industry. Further,
truck manufacturers, truck stop operators, and States and Federal
agencies need to know that if they assist in TSE deployment to reduce
emissions and conserve fuel, the interface between the truck and
stationary infrastructure will need to be compatible across the
country.
Many different and divergent codes and standards potentially could
be applied to TSE, including those set forth by the following
organizations:
--National Electrical Code (NEC) providing standards for electric
vehicle, recreational vehicle (RV) and marine power pedestals along
with on-board wiring standards for RV's.
--Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) providing standards for high
voltage primary system wiring design and components.
--Underwriters Laboratories (UL) providing standards for 120 VAC
distribution wiring, plugs, receptacles, protective devices and on-
board appliances.
--National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) providing
standards for plug and receptacle outlet configurations.
--Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Canadian Electrical Code
(CEC) providing standards similar to that of UL and NEC but for
application in Canada.
Some of these standards-setting organizations have established
preferred voltage/current ratings, plug types, and truck cab external
connection locations. For example, SAE standard J1673 defines design
and use requirements for primary high voltage wiring systems aboard on-
road vehicles, but lacks explicit guidelines for distribution of 120-
Volt alternating current (AC) originating from grid-based electrical
outlets for use on secondary power systems, as in the case of TSE.
Additionally, the RV wiring standards listed in NEC and CSA allow for
wiring practice that may not be suitable for the high vibration
environment of a truck or the facility designs found at truck stops.
For example, the use of insulation
[[Page 41255]]
displacement connections with solid wire is an excepted practice with
RV's that when exposed to high vibration will cut into the wire with
the potential of being hazardous. Truck manufacturers have already
dealt with local code enforcement organizations that claim oversight of
the manufacturing installation of standard AC systems within their
jurisdictions. But to date there is no consensus on a uniform approach
to addressing the on-board TSE equipment as well as the stationary
equipment requirements.
On October 27, 2003, EPA and DOT held the first national workshop
on developing consistent TSE codes and electrical standards. The goal
of the workshop was to examine the issues surrounding TSE standards and
to try to generate an initial consensus on a consistent, national
standard for TSE as it applies to long-haul trucks. This was
accomplished by examining a variety of existing codes and standards,
holding a facilitated discussion of the concerns and issues as seen
from the various perspectives of the long-haul trucking industry, and
developing an initial national recommendation or action plan dealing
with TSE standards.
The purpose of this Notice of Data Availability is to seek your
input on the workshop recommendations. TSE standardization requires
input from various industry and standards-setting organizations. The
comments and suggestions received from this notice will be used to
better develop a national consensus. Once consensus is reached on many
of the above issues and choices, a standards-setting organization will
need to formally undertake the effort of establishing a national
standard.
DATES: Submit comments on or before August 9, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically or by mail to the
contact below or through EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket by
searching on the appropriate docket identification number. EPA will
make available for public inspection at the Air and Radiation Docket
written comments received from interested parties. The official public
docket is the collection of materials that is available for public
viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/
DC) EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC.
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the
telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1743.
The reference number for this docket is OAR-2003-0226.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Lonoff, Transportation and
Regional Programs Division (6406J), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone:
(202) 343-9147, e-mail address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Current Codes and Standards
Based on the workshop, the following currently applicable standards
were identified as relevant to TSE:
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Document
Managing organization identifier Title
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Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE J1654......... High Voltage
Primary Cable.
Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE J1673......... High Voltage
Automotive Wiring
Assembly Design.
Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE J1742......... Connections for
High Voltage On-
board Road
Vehicle
Electrical Wiring
Harnesses.
National Electrical Standards Wiring Devices--
Manufacturers Association. Publication No. Dimensional
WD 6. Specifications.
National Fire Protection NFPA 70........... 2002 National
Association. Electric Code.
National Fire Protection NFPA 1194......... Standard for
Association. Recreational
Vehicle Parks.
National Fire Protection NFPA 70 Article Branched Circuit
Association. 220. and Feeder
Calculations.
Underwriters Laboratories....... Standard No. 62... Flexible Cord and
Fixture Wire.
Underwriters Laboratories....... Standard No. 817.. Cord Sets and
Power Supply
Cords.
Underwriters Laboratories....... Standard No. 943.. Ground Fault
Circuit
Interrupters.
Canadian Standards Association.. CEC, Part 1....... 2002 Canadian
Electric Code.
Canadian Standards Association.. C22.2 No. 21-95 Cord Sets and
(R1999). Power Supply
Cords.
Canadian Standards Association.. C22.2 No. 49-98... Flexible Cords and
Cables.
Canadian Standards Association.. Z240.6.2/C22.2 No. Electrical
149-99. Requirements for
Recreational
Vehicles.
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II. Potential TSE Code and Electrical Standards
Based on discussions with and comments from key participants in the
trucking and standard-setting industries, the following areas have been
identified as needing attention. We seek your comments and suggestions
on the following issues. As you write your comments, please indicate
the section you are commenting on (e.g., On-Board System Power Needs).
Please ensure your comments are relevant to the issues presented
i. On-Board System Power Needs
To best determine uniform off-board power requirements, we need to
better understand the on-board power needs. Truck drivers will operate
various on-board components, such as an electric heating/air
conditioning system, engine block heater, TV/VCR, refrigerator, and
lights to name just a few. While not all of these on-board components
operate simultaneously, and the power needs will fluctuate throughout
the year, we need to determine a range of kilowatt (kW) power. What is
the kW power needs? Is it <3 kW, 3-6kW, or >6 kW? Describe the types of
devices and their kW needs when operated? Should we use peak power
needs? Should we follow existing codes for feeder and demand
calculations or does this technology warrant specific codes to follow?
What are the future trends? Will power needs increase or decrease?
ii. Off-Board Power Needs
Based on certain assumptions of on-board power needs described
above, what voltage and amperage configuration will supply the on-board
needs? Should it be 120V, 240V single phase, 208V three phase, 208V
single phase or some other voltage? Please be specific so as not to
confuse 240V with 208V or other voltages that often get defined as
equivalent. What amperage configuration will best provide the power
required? Is it 20, 30, 50, or some other amperage? What are the power
needs for transportation refrigerator units? Most engine block heaters
are designed to operate at 120V. Will a voltage above 120V present
problems for the existing heaters on the market? Or does this emphasize
the need for truck
[[Page 41256]]
OEM's to install integrated block heaters into the TSE designs?
iii. Connection Compatibility and Safety
What plug configuration should be used? Should the block heater
connection be considered as part of the truck-mounted TSE system?
Should power management be required, and if so where should it be
installed, on the truck or within the connection facility? Should
multiple configurations be available on a percentage of use basis, as
is done at RV campsites? How should the user be required to interface
with the TSE system for questions and payment?
What type of safety considerations should be included in developing
the TSE system? Which grounding standard should be adopted for truck
on-board and facility systems? Should power be distributed in any
certain manner? Should power be available at any distance away from
vehicle? Should electrical safety measures (GFCI, fuses, breakers,
etc.) be present on the truck, at the connection facility, in the
connection wiring, or a combination of these? What sort of safeguards
should be in place to verify that the driver only energizes his/her
parking space? What safety measures (like auto-eject connectors or
break-away connections, engine/transmission/emergency brake system
interlocks, visual indicators, or other equipment) should be integrated
into the TSE system to prevent structural damage, should users pull
away while still connected? Should tamper loop monitoring be required?
Are standards required to ensure safe power supply switching between
on-board and off-board power sources? Should open service neutral
protection be standardized on truck-mounted systems?
iv. System Design
What steps should be taken to ensure that modularity of both the
truck-mounted and the facility-based TSE is ensured? How should wiring
systems of the truck-mounted systems delineate AC and DC wiring or high
and low voltage wiring (color-coding)? What location on the truck
(incorporating safety, visibility, and user preferences) should be
designated as the standard location for the installation of the truck-
mounted TSE connection (e.g., driver side, passenger side or front of
vehicle, fender or cab area)? How should cab design issues be
approached when determining the impact on cab power requirements?
Should a standardized cab living space be identified to determine the
vehicle electrical load requirements (heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning [HVAC] system capacity and cab insulation levels)? What
weight allowances should be permitted for truck-mounted TSE equipment?
Dated: June 29, 2004.
Suzanne Rudzinski,
Director, Transportation and Regional Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 04-15534 Filed 7-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P