Jump to main content.

SmartWay Logo
Verified Technologies

EPA has evaluated the fuel saving benefits of various devices through grants, cooperative agreements, emissions and fuel economy testing, demonstration projects and technical literature review.  As a result, EPA has determined the following types of technologies provide fuel saving and/or emission reducing benefits when used properly in their designed applications:

Idle Reduction Technologies
Aerodynamic Technologies
Low Rolling Resistance Tires
Retrofit Technologies

Within each of these categories, EPA has verified specific products.  These are listed below.  EPA continues to evaluate new products and add them to the lists.  Although EPA has verified the fuel saving and/or emission reducing benefits of the listed products, EPA does not endorse the purchase of products or services from any specific vendor.  EPA urges you to compare products, services, and prices before making your purchase.  For any product not listed below, EPA cannot confer its verification on that product.

General Grant Eligibility Note:  Equipment purchased with funds from National Clean Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grants must be on the SmartWay verified list (below) or verified diesel retrofit technologies list at the time of the acquisition to be eligible.  These lists are regularly updated as new products are verified.

Can I buy a truck that already comes with SmartWay technologies?

SmartWay Certified Tractors and Trailers are outfitted at the point of sale with SmartWay verified technologies and other fuel saving features.  The purchase of a SmartWay Certified Tractor or Trailer qualifies as a “vehicle replacement” for purposes of DERA grant eligibility. 

How can I request to have my product added as a verified technology?

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

To request that EPA evaluate your product for inclusion on an EPA-verified technology list, send an email to SmartWay-tech@epa.gov for idle reduction technologies, aerodynamic technologies, and low rolling resistance tires. Interim guidance (PDF) (2 pp, 40K) and an interim test method (PDF) (2 pp, 42K) for verifying certain Smartway components (aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires) are now available online. For retrofit technologies, obtain a retrofit application packet retrofit application packet and submit it to CleanDiesel@epa.gov

Verified Idle Reduction Technologies

Over the past several years, EPA has evaluated idle reduction technologies/devices as part of grants, cooperative agreements, emissions testing, engineering analyses, modeling, demonstration projects and external peer reviewed reports to study the effects of idling on air quality, fuel consumption and driver health.  Based on this evaluation and research, EPA has determined that a variety of idle reduction technologies save fuel and reduce emissions when compared to idling the main engine. 

Idle reduction technology allows engine operators to refrain from long-duration idling of the main propulsion engine by using an alternative technology. An idle reduction technology is generally defined as the installation of a technology or device that:

Certain idle reduction devices are now exempt from the federal excise tax when purchased with a new truck. For a list of idling reduction technologies eligible for the federal excise tax exemption, please see Federal Excise Tax Exemption.

To date, EPA has verified devices in the following categories of idle reduction technologies:

Electrified Parking Spaces (EPS)

An EPS system operates independently of the truck’s engine and allows the truck engine to be turned off as the EPS system supplies heating, cooling, and electrical power. The EPS system provides off-board electrical power to operate either:

In both cases, the EPS system reduces main engine idling by providing an alternative source of energy which results in lower emissions than the main engine.

SmartWay has verified technologies among the product lines of the following companies:

Shore Connection Systems and Alternative Maritime Power (SCS/AMP)

An SCS/AMP system allows maritime vessels to “plug into” an electrical power source instead of using its diesel auxiliary engines while at port. This system also includes various components such as cables, cable management systems, shore power coupler systems, distribution control systems, and power distribution.

SmartWay has verified technologies among the product lines of the following company:

Note on Shore Connection Baseline and Offsetting Emissions

Shore Connection Systems for Locomotives (SCS)

An SCS system allows locomotives to “plug into” an electrical power source instead of using its diesel engines while at the railyard.

SmartWay has verified technologies among the product lines of the following company:

Auxiliary Power Units and Generator Sets (APU/GS)

An APU/GS device contains an EPA emission-certified engine (certified under 40 CFR Part 89). APU/GS devices supply cooling, heating, and electrical power to Class 8 trucks and other applications. EPA has determined through its own test program that these devices reduce emissions on long-haul, Class 8 trucks and locomotives when compared to a truck’s baseline emissions from the main propulsion engine.

The following APU/GS systems are SmartWay verified for long-haul, class 8 trucks:

SmartWay has verified APU/GS systems for locomotives among the product lines of the following companies: 

  • Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Company
  • Teleflex Ecotrans L.P.

Fuel Operated Heaters (FOH)

A  FOH provides heat (only) by combusting fuel drawn from the main engine or other fuel system. EPA has determined through its own test program that these devices reduce emissions on long-haul, Class 8 trucks when compared to the truck’s baseline emissions. EPA has also determined that FOHs provide a similar idle reduction benefit when used on school buses and locomotives. In addition, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved certain FOHs for compliance with applicable California emissions standards.

The following FOHs are SmartWay verified for long - haul, class 8 trucks:

  • Automotive Climate Control - FFHD 2
  • Espar Heater Systems - D1LC, D3LC, Airtronic D2/D4, Hydronic 5/8/10/12
  • Teleflex - A2, A4, 45
  • Volvo - 41-11
  • Webasto - Air Top 2000, Air Top 3500, Thermo 90S

The following FOH systems are SmartWay  verified for locomotives:

  • A.S.T. Group -  35kW, 50kW and 90kW LTP Systems (includes automatic Start/Stop capability)

Battery Air Conditioning Systems (BAC)

A BAC system uses batteries to power an independent electric cooling system. Typically, these systems integrate a FOH to supply heating. EPA has evaluated BACs and finds that these
systems reduce emissions on long-haul, Class 8 trucks when compared to the truck’s baseline emissions.

The following BAC systems are SmartWay verified:

  • AuraGen - Inverter/Charger System
  • Bergstrom, Inc - NITE
  • DC Power Solutions - APU/AC System
  • Dometic Corp. - Sleeper AC
  • Driver Comfort System - Driver Comfort System
  • EnergyXtreme - PPEX60, PPEX80
  • Freightliner Cascadia - Park Smart System
  • Glacier Bay - ClimaCab
  • Hammond Air Conditioning, LTD - Artic Breeze
  • Idle Free Systems - Reefer Link System I
  • Indel B Sleeping Wel - Arctic 1000, Arctic 2000, Oblo
  • Kenworth Truck Co. - Kenworth Clean Power
  • Navistar/Bergstrom - 12V Aux No-Idle HVAC
  • Paddock Solar - Paddock Solar
  • Peterbilt - Comfort Class System
  • Safer Corporation - VIESA
  • Sun Power Technologies - Sleeper AC
  • Volvo - 971-001/2

Thermal Storage Systems (TSS)

A TSS system stores energy in cold storage as the truck is driven, and then provides air conditioning when the truck is turned off. EPA has evaluated TSS and finds that these systems reduce emissions on Class 8 trucks when compared to the truck’s baseline emissions.

The following TSSs are SmartWay verified:

Automatic Shut-down/ Start-Up Systems

An automatic engine shut-down/start-up system not only turns off the main engine while idling but can re-start the engine when necessary.  Re-start of the main engine is typically based on a set time period, engine or ambient temperature, and other parameters (e.g., battery charge).  To date, SmartWay has only verified AESS systems for locomotives.

SmartWay has verified AESS systems for locomotives among the product lines of the following manufacturers.:

Locomotives:

top of page

Verified Aerodynamic Technologies

Trailer aerodynamic technologies can minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over the entire tractor-trailer vehicle.  Trailer aerodynamic devices include gap fairings that reduce the gap between the tractor and the trailer to reduce turbulence, trailer side skirts that minimize wind under the trailer, and trailer rear fairings that reduce turbulence and pressure drop at the rear of the trailer.  EPA determined that using these trailer aerodynamic fairings in combination with one another (or, in a few cases, when used alone) have the potential to provide an estimated 5% or greater reduction in fuel use relative to the truck's baseline, when used in conjunction with an aerodynamic tractor on long haul class 8 trucks, in highway type operation. This reduces NOx emissions, saves over 800 gallons of fuel, and eliminates over 9 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.  Actual fuel savings depends upon the aerodynamic effectiveness demonstrated by each individual product, and truck operation.  To reduce NOx, greenhouse gases and improve fuel efficiency, legacy fleets can be retrofitted with aerodynamic trailer fairings, or the fairings can be provided as new equipment options.

EPA has verified the following categories of aerodynamic technologies: Trailer Gap Reducer and Trailer side skirts (used in combination with one another); Trailer Boat Tail and Trailer Side Skirts (used in combination with one another); Advanced Trailer End Fairing; and, Advanced Trailer Skirt. In order to be eligible for funding under the DERA, verified aerodynamic technologies must be specifically listed on EPA’s verified technology list.

The following trailer aerodynamic technologies are SmartWay verified:

top of page

Verified Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Based upon data provided by tire manufacturers and EPA testing and research, EPA determined that certain tire models can provide a reduction in NOx emissions and an estimated fuel savings of 3% or greater, relative to the "best selling" new tires for line haul trucks, when used on all five axles on long haul class 8 trucks.  The options offered include both dual tires and single wide tires (single wide tires replace the double tire on each end of a drive or trailer axle, in effect turning an "18" wheeler into a "10" wheeler).  Low rolling resistance tires can be used with lower-weight aluminum wheels to further improve fuel savings.

To date, EPA has verified the following low rolling resistance tires.  In order to be eligible for funding under the DERA, verified low rolling resistance tires must be specifically listed on EPA’s verified technology list.

The following low rolling resistance tires are SmartWay verified: 

top of page

Verified Retrofit Technologies

For a list of EPA and CARB verified retrofit technologies such as diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters, please visit EPA’s verified retrofit technologies list.

Note on Shore Connection Baseline and Offsetting Emissions: A method to determine baseline emissions of your project is available in the following publication: “Rulemaking to Consider Adoption of Proposed Regulations to Reduce Emissions from Diesel Auxiliary Engines on Ocean-Going Vessels while at Berth at a California Port” (Appendix B: Emission Inventory Methodology); California Air Resources Board (December 6, 2007). This report is available at www.arb.ca.gov/ports/shorepower/shorepower.htm. Exit EPA Disclaimer While this report provides information specific to California ports, the method used in this report can be used in other jurisdictions. To determine the offsetting emissions of electrical power use from shore-side power, EPA provides the following model to assess these emissions offsets: The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID). This is a comprehensive inventory of electric power systems which uses available plant-specific data for all U.S. electricity generating plants that provide power to the electric grid and report data to the U.S. government. The eGRID contains air emissions data for nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and mercury. The model and directions can be downloaded at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/index.html

top of page

SmartWay Transport is maintained by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ).

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.