Atlanta, GA - September 2016 -

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‍On Thursday, September 15, CTE and its project partners kicked-off project activity for the Reduced Engine Idle Load (REIL) System Development and Demonstration Project, sponsored by the FTA Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation (TRI). The project is part of FTA's Bus Efficiency Enhancements Research and Demonstration (BEERD) Program and aims to reduce fuel consumption and engine emissions created when transit buses sit at idle. BAE Systems, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and New Flyer are project team members. The Georgia Institute of Technology will act as the project's third party, independent, evaluator.

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The REIL system is envisioned as a high efficiency onboard vehicle power system intended for conventional propulsion CNG and diesel powered transit buses and over-the-road coaches. The system is expected to reduce vehicle maintenance costs and generate fuel economy and emission reduction benefits by electrifying bus accessories and allowing engine-off accessory operation. This is especially useful in the transit bus market, where buses are often required to idle for long periods of time while operating accessory systems, such as air-conditioning and air-brake systems. In addition to reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions during dwell periods, the REIL system will reduce engine noise at idle and reduce maintenance costs by replacing belt-driven accessories with electrically driven counterparts. BAE Systems will lead system design, development, and demonstration activities, with close support from New Flyer. MARTA will provide real-world transit bus drive cycle data and help ensure the team uses realistic, transit-specific duty cycles for system testing and engine test stand demonstration tasks. CTE will provide general oversight and management services throughout the project and ensure that federal reporting requirements are fulfilled.

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Blake Whitson, a CTE Project Manager, believes that the project team is especially well suited to deliver a useful product.

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"It's incredibly valuable to have a system supplier and integrator [BAE Systems], a vehicle OEM [New Flyer], and a potential end-user [MARTA] all involved from Day 1. Getting feedback from these organizations and understanding their perspectives throughout the development process will pay dividends for getting this clean technology on the road in the future", says Whitson.

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The project has an 18-month timeline and is expected to end in Quarter 1 of 2018.