# Presentation: 448785

## Locomotive Idle Reduction

- August 11, 2004
- Brian F. Loll
- Assistant Commissioner
- Energy & Air Quality Division
- Chicago Dept of Environment

## Locomotives Spend A Lot of Time Idling

|  | Road Idle Time | Yard Idle Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EPA Estimate | 38.0% | 59.8% |
| AAR Estimate | 54.0% | 75.4% |
| RAC Estimate | 60.0% | 81.0% |

- Locomotives Spend _A Lot_ of Time Idling

- EPA = Environmental Protection Agency
- AAR = American Association of Railroads
- RAC = Railway Association of Canada

## Locomotives Consume A Lot of Fuel When Idling(figures shown are in gallons per hour)

| Model | Idle | Notch 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SW12/SW15 | 3.8 | 9 |
| GP7/GP9 | 3.7 | 8 |
| GP38-2/SD38-2 | 4.5 | 11 |
| GP40-2/SD40-2 | 5.1 | 11 |

- A locomotive typically idles at the “idle” throttle setting, but when outside temperatures drop to 10-15F, the locomotive is idled at the “notch 3” setting to keep the engine warm.

## 21,685 gallons/year!

- In a typical year, one locomotive consumes as much fuel idling as 11 idling semi-trucks (assumptions per  EPA420-R-02-025).

- =

##  Fuel In = Emissions Out

-  Fuel In = Emissions Out

## Why do locomotives idle?

- Avoid difficult start-ups
- Engine “cold” when < 100F
- Weak batteries
- Freeze Protection
- Engine freezes when < 32F

- Note: Locomotive engine is 30 times bigger than engine in Suburban, does not use anti-freeze, uses a 74vDC starter motor and runs on diesel fuel.

## 1st project to test a locomotive idle reduction technology.
Driven by idle reduction directive in the National Energy Policy.
Goal = Quantify reductions in fuel consumption, emissions and noise.

- 1st project to test a locomotive idle reduction technology.
- Driven by idle reduction directive in the National Energy Policy.
- Goal = Quantify reductions in fuel consumption, emissions and noise.

## Funding & resources supplied by;
EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality
City of Chicago, Dept of Environment
BNSF Railroad
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Company

- Funding & resources supplied by;
- EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality
- City of Chicago, Dept of Environment
- BNSF Railroad
- Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
- Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Company

## Technology

- The “Hotstart” Diesel Driven Heating System manufactured by Kim Hotstart Manufacturing company of Spokane, WA was selected for the project.  The Hotstart allows an idling locomotive to be shutdown by keeping the locomotive engine temperature above 100F and keeping the batteries charged.

## 3 Hotstarts installed on BNSF GP 38 locomotives idling in Corwith Yard
BNSF 2133 also equipped with SmartStart system to automatically shutdown locomotive.
4 Hotstarts installed on WS SD 40-2 locomotives idling in Belt Railway

- 3 Hotstarts installed on BNSF GP 38 locomotives idling in Corwith Yard
- BNSF 2133 also equipped with SmartStart system to automatically shutdown locomotive.
- 4 Hotstarts installed on WS SD 40-2 locomotives idling in Belt Railway

## BNSF GP38 LocomotiveEngine = 16-645E (10,320 CID, 2000hp)

## WSOR SD40-2 LocomotiveEngine = 16-645E3 (10,320 CID, 3000hp)

## Retrofits

## April 2002 – Project Partners selected and Scope of Work agreed upon.
Aug 2002 – Technology installed.
Sep 2002 – EPA-Chicago launch event held.
Sep 2002 - FRA noise testing completed.
Jan 2003 – Heating capacity test conducted.
Sep 2003 – Fuel savings and emission reduction quantified.
March 2004 – EPA report released.

- April 2002 – Project Partners selected and Scope of Work agreed upon.
- Aug 2002 – Technology installed.
- Sep 2002 – EPA-Chicago launch event held.
- Sep 2002 - FRA noise testing completed.
- Jan 2003 – Heating capacity test conducted.
- Sep 2003 – Fuel savings and emission reduction quantified.
- March 2004 – EPA report released.

## BNSF 2133 Results

- Idle Time Reduced 80%
- Fuel Savings per day = 42.7 gallons
- Fuel Savings per year = 14,339 gallons
- NOx reduced per year = 2.4 tons
- PM reduced per year = 0.07 tons
- Noise pollution reduced 8-15 decibels
- Cost to reduce 1 ton of NOx just $1,420

## Project was a Win! Win! Win!

- _Left to Right_
- Tom Skinner, EPA
- Marcia Jiminez, Chicago
- Craig Hill, BNSF

- Fuel Savings!

- Cleaner air for our citizens!

- Reduced air and noise pollution!

## Acknowledgements

## Thank You!