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Class 8 trucks idling consume significant amounts of diesel fuel each year in North America and abroad. Engine idling occurs to power sleeper compartment accessories (air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions), and to avoid start-up problems. The alternative power sources available to reduce the need for idling (i.e. battery packs, auxiliary generators, direct-fired heaters, absorption coolers) all have severe economic and technical drawbacks that have limited their market acceptance. Freightliner Corporation, in conjunction with its development partner XCELLSiS Corp. has constructed a fully functioning concept demonstration vehicle that utilizes Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology in an auxiliary power unit (FC APU). While fuel cell powertrains continue to face significant technical and economic barriers, with additional development truck auxiliary power applications may offer a viable near-term market for small (1 - 5 kW) fuel cells.

The Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis (ITS-Davis) has brought together a group of public and industrial partners to demonstrate and evaluate the Siemens-Westinghouse Urea-Selective Catalyst Reduction System (SINOx™). The SINOx System has the potential to generate major reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and the volatile organic fraction (VOF) of particulate (PM) from heavy-duty diesel engines, without increasing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This demonstration began with engine bench testing at Detroit Diesel Corporation to calibrate the system to attain 1 g/bhp-hr NOx emissions in the transient portion of the US-FTP on a 1999 Series 60 engine that has a 4 g/bhp-hr emission level. The second phase of the project entails an on-highway demonstration of a set of ten, Freightliner Class 8 heavy-duty diesel vehicles. These vehicles are part of the Valley Material Transport fleet based in French Camp, California.