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Despite stricter anti-idling regulations issued by government entities, trailer refrigeration units (TRUs) have traditionally been exempt from these rules. However, diesel-operated TRUs are high emitters of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide at rest areas, truck stops, and loading docks and are becoming the focus of recent regulatory activity. Since these units must operate to keep perishable goods at the proper storage temperatures during transport, regulating the emissions from conventional TRUs without a proven alternative to the diesel engine-driven system is not feasible. The objective of this multi-phase project is to advance the electrical displacement of petroleum fuels currently utilized by the refrigeration transport industry while trailers are stationary at distribution warehouses.

A great deal of interest has been expressed recently in hybrid electric vehicles, both for their potential for reduced environmental impacts as well as their increased range over electric-only vehicles. Several organizations have initiated programs to design and evaluate a specific type of hybrid vehicle, the Range Extender Vehicle (REV). Based upon this industry activity, the U.S. Department of Energy's Electric and Hybrid Propulsion Division commissioned the two-phase study which serves as the basis of this paper. A range extender vehicle is a hybrid vehicle, where a small engine generator (a “genset”) is added to a basic electric vehicle design. This genset “sustains” vehicle operation beyond the range provided by the batteries. The additional weight of the genset and fuel is balanced by the removal of some of the vehicle's batteries.