Local firm gets $250,000 state grant

By Teresa Stowell of the Daily Times staff
Thursday, October 9, 2008 12:39 PM CDT

Robert Jordan, chief technology officer of Idel Free, is pictured above giving a tour of the facility to Rod Nilsestuen, state secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumber Protection, and members of the community. Idle Free received a $250,000 grant from the state. (TERESA STOWELL/Daily Times)

Idle Free Technology received a $250,000 grant from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund for the research, development, commercialization and adoption of its new biofuel flow system.

Rod Nilsestuen, state secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, presented the grant in Watertown Wednesday afternoon.

“This is what we're about. The governor has pushed very strongly to move forward on energy independence,” Nilsestuen said. “The grant application from Idle Free stood out. The thrust of the organization is really over the middle of the plate of what we're trying to do here. The opportunity to talk biodiesel and the Idle Free approach makes tons of sense and that's why your application rose to the top.”

Idle Free Technology is a leading innovator and patent holder in idle elimination and energy storage technology for trucks and buses. Company founders believe by eliminating idling, it can create a healthier environment while saving money on fuel and wear and tear on an engine.

Robert Jordan, chief technology officer of Idle Free, gave a tour of the facility to Nilsestuen and community members Wednesday afternoon. He demonstrated an example of a prototype of the new biofuel flow system that will be created from the grant funds.

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“The concept behind the biofuel flow system is to enable the use of biodiesel fuel all year round and to create higher blends of biodiesel fuel,” Robert Hopton, CEO of Idle Free, said. “Right now there are blends of biodiesel fuel with 5 percent bio and 95 percent diesel. The reason you can't use a higher blend of biodiesel fuel today or why you can't use it year round is because it clouds and gels at certain temperatures.”

The Idle Free system is designed that with the engine off a battery can continue to pump hot liquid through the coolant lines and by routing the coolant lines with the fuel lines keep the biodiesel at the right temperature and keep it from gelling.

“So, for example, when a farmer leaves the tractor for the day the system kicks in and the fuel line won't freeze overnight,” Hopton said. “By having the two lines together in proximity we're able to use the radiant heat generated by the renewable energy and keep the diesel fuel from gelling.”

Nilsestuen and other members of the community were able to feel warm air being blown through a pipe that was created from Jordan's example of the biofuel flow prototype.

“With confidence some day we'll use biodiesel in diesel-fueled vehicles all year round. Right now we're in the testing stages. It works perfect today but come back in January when it's 30 degrees below zero and see if it works then,” Jordan said. “With the grant we'll use those funds to refine the concept, test it, find temperature ranges and determine a biodiesel and petroleum blend ratio.”

Hopton said the company will be testing with biofuel for different blends and different ratios in different temperatures.

“Winter is a perfect time for us to begin these tests,” Hopton said. “We'll be able to simulate many different temperatures.”

While Idle Free will use the grant to refine its biofuel flow system, the business is currently working with different companies and truck manufacturers to promote its idle eliminator system that uses AGM batteries. Jordan created a demonstration trailer which shows the system used in a bunk of a truck and gave a tour to Nilsestuen Wednesday afternoon.

“The Idle Free system takes energy created by the truck's engine when it is running during the day and stores it for later use when it is shut down for the night,” Jordan said. “Using the latest advances in battery technology, we can safely power the truck, keeping the heating or air conditioning, along with the electrical components, running all night long.”

In the past year Idle Free has connected with Mack trucks to be the idle eliminator of choice for their trucks. Idle Free also has eight systems installed and being tested in trucks owned by Toys R Us. A number of trucks owned by Tyson are also testing out the Idle Free battery system.

“The Idle Free system with the AGM batteries is what we're doing now,” Jordan said. “The biodiesel flow system is two years down the road.”