METRO Magazine awards Bergstrom Inc., Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Motor Coach Industries (MCI) with 2018 Innovative Solutions Award
October 3, 2018
Bergstrom Inc. in conjunction with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has been awarded the 2018 Innovative Solutions Award from METRO Magazine for their innovative use of a "no-idle” battery electric auxiliary power unit (APU) with solar in a motor coach.
The innovative system was jointly developed by all three groups in 2017 and is being used in INL’s fleet of employee shuttle motor coaches that takes nearly 2,000 cars off the road every day. It enables the air conditioning system to continue to operate when the engine is turned off and has helped INL dramatically reduce its engine idling and in turn, its fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine wear.
"It’s an honor to receive this recognition for our work with INL and MCI,” said Bergstrom Vice President of Electrified Systems Terry Zeigler. "We support and actively search for cleaner, more energy-efficient technology that helps those in the motor coach industry and the many automotive industries we serve. This recognition is just another sign that our industry is quickly accepting and adapting more energy-efficient technologies that will help both our customers and the environment.”
The Innovative Solutions Award honors operators and solutions providers who develop innovative solutions that save money, run more efficiently, streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction or increase ridership. METRO Magazine, which serves bus and motor coach operators, today announced the award recipients during the BusCon Breakfast Awards Ceremony in Indianapolis. Senior Development Engineer Brett Hermann, Senior Electronic Design Engineer Aaron Sullivan and Bergstrom Standard Products Division National Sales Manager Mike Aldred were key to the success of the project and accepted the award on behalf of Bergstrom. Past winners include Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)/Uber/Lyft, the Capital District Transportation Authority/Genfare and Pierce Transit/Rosco/Mobileye/Munich Reinsurance.
With funding support from the Department of Energy’s Sustainability Performance Office, Bergstrom, INL and MCI collaborated to design and modify a bus cooling-ventilating system that would sharply reduce idle emissions. After a pilot proof-of-concept, no-idle HVAC project was completed with the installation of the Bergstrom battery electric APU with solar, the system was then rolled out to the INL fleet vehicles to help further reduce their consumption of petroleum fuels.
Bergstrom is a leading designer and manufacturer of cab climate systems for commercial trucks, off-highway machines, military vehicles, specialty vehicles and niche automotive markets. INL is a lab part of the Department of Energy’s complex of national laboratories, which performs work in each of the strategic goal areas of DOE – energy, national security, environment and science. MCI is a leading bus manufacturer and North America's motor coach leader in public and private markets.
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About Bergstrom Inc.
Bergstrom Inc. is the leading designer and manufacturer of cab climate systems for heavy-duty commercial trucks, off-highway machines and specialty vehicles. By combining progressive engineering talent, lean manufacturing principles and a global footprint, Bergstrom offers a unique blend of commercial vehicle marketplace focus and customer value. For more information, visit bergstrominc.com.
