All That remains of Park N View are a few neglected balls in scattered parking lots across the country. I remember using the service to get internet, and wishing they had wired them for 120 volts ac so that I could install a small heater or AC unit and stop idling my truck. The picture on the left was taken somewhere in the last 3 weeks. very few other PNV balls remain.
Several years ago two different approaches were made to the truck stop electrification idea, one of those has since died its’ second death. Named Idle Aire, the simple electrification of the truck stop was bundled into a massive infrastructure that also offered internet access, television and movies on demand.
The idea was complicated and convoluted, instead of offering 120 volt electricity ( yes it was also included) they planned to make their profit from on demand movies, internet access, and an hourly charge for AC or heat using a window unit remote from an over head unit. This idea involved building massive structures, and even changing the parking patterns and driving patterns in the parking lot.
The other idea spread slowly on the west coast, and I have used it a few times in Sacramento California at the 49r truck stop. Today I am sitting here in comfort provided with 120 volts, I do not need other services, not Cable TV not ac or heat ( I have my own) not internet access, and by the way the cost is not $2 an hour, the service is free.
There are only a few shore power places that I visit, but I read recently that the Federal Government was granting them some millions of our tax payers dollars to expand. Maybe they will even take over the old and badly designed Idle Aire locations and try to downsize the offering to something useful and possibly self sustainable.
On the east coast I ran into an even more interesting truck stop electrification idea. It was located in Connecticut at exit 93 off of I95. There is there a Stuckeys or shell truck stop that had a parking lot that offered ac, heat, and electricity for free. Imagine that, FREE. I have pictures, and offer to you this idea, if truck stops were electrified and had 120 volts available to parked trucks.
Most drivers have or would acquire, and most OEM manufacturers would begin to offer shore powered options to eliminate idling. We use the term truck stop electrification to justify massive federal grants , why are the parking lots not electrified in a way useful. Here are the winners, Shore power, and Stuckeys. Hey you guys in Washington, do you ever wonder why we think you are asleep?
[...] Several years ago two different approaches were made to the truck stop electrification idea, one of those has since died its’ second death. Named Idle Aire, the simple electrification of the truck stop was bundled into a massive infrastructure that also offered internet access, television and movies on demand. Read the rest of this entry » [...]