2020 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
(DERA) National Grants Transport
Refrigeration Unit (TRU) Factsheet
What is a "reefer?"
Refrigerated, insulated cargo trailers, straight trucks, intermodal shipping containers,
and rail cars can all commonly be referred to as "reefers." It originates from the word
"refrigerated."
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sets for travelling shorter distances. Often, insulated trailers with shore powered all-electric
TRUs are used for stationary operations to increase holiday and summer season cold storage
capacity at grocery stores.
Hybrid Electric TRU
In a hybrid electric TRU (also called a hybrid plug-in eTRU), the refrigerator's compressor
is driven solely by an electric motor. When over-the-road, electric power is supplied by an
integral diesel genset located within the TRU housing; when stationary (e.g., loading at a
distribution center), the hybrid electric TRU plugs-in to available electric grid shore power.
Standby Electric TRU
In a standby electric TRU (also called a standby plug-in eTRU), the refrigerator's compres-
sor is both mechanically driven by an integral diesel engine and electrically driven by an
integral electric motor. When over-the-road, the unit is powered by the diesel engine; when
stationary, the electric standby feature allows the TRU to be plugged into electrical power
and the diesel engine to be turned off.
What is a TRU generator set (genset)?
A TRU genset provides electric power to an all-electric TRU when the unit is not plugged into
ocean-going ship electric power or dock-side shore power.
•	"Pin-on" TRU gensets are pinned onto the front of refrigerated shipping containers, just
above the container's built in all-electric refrigeration system.
•	"Under-slung," or "belly mount" TRU gensets are clamped to the frame rails of intermo-
dal trailer chassis.
•	A "powerpack" TRU genset consists of several diesel generators installed into a shipping
container, which then provides electric power to multiple refrigerated shipping contain-
ers and are generally limited to railcar use and longer periods of transport.
What types of TRU projects are eligible under DERA?
Diesel powered TRUs and TRU gensets are eligible as nonroad equipment under DERA if
the existing engines meet the ownership, usage, and remaining life criteria defined in Section
I.B.6 of the Request for Applications. Additional project eligibly criteria is defined in Sections
I.B.3,4, and 5, and are summarized below.
Replacement Projects:
•	Removing the old, diesel-powered TRU from the truck or trailer, scrapping it, and
installing a new TRU, electric standby TRU, hybrid electric TRU, or all-electric TRU.
EPA will fund up to 25% of the cost of an eligible piece of equipment powered by an
engine certified to EPA emission standards. EPA will fund up to 45% of the cost of an
eligible zero tailpipe emission piece of equipment. Please note that the 45% EPA funding
is only eligible if the new unit will operate solely on grid, battery, or other zero emission
power sources. eTRUs that will be powered by diesel engines or diesel gensets are only
eligible for the 25% EPA funding;
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•	Scrapping the entire TRU-equipped trailer or shipping container and purchasing a new
trailer or shipping container with new, eligible TRU, eTRU, electric standby TRU or
hybrid electric TRU technology installed. New trailers can gain additional efficiencies
and fuel savings. EPA will fund up to 25% of the cost of an eligible piece of equipment
powered by an engine certified to EPA emission standards. EPA will fund up to 45% of
the cost of an eligible zero tailpipe emission piece of equipment. Please note that the
45% EPA funding is only eligible if the new unit will operate solely on grid, battery, or
other zero emission power sources. eTRUs that will be powered by diesel engines or
diesel gensets are only eligible for the 25% EPA funding; or
•	Scrapping a TRU genset and installing a new TRU genset. EPA will fund up to 25%
of the cost of an eligible TRU gen set powered by an engine certified to EPA emission
standards.
Eligible costs for eTRUs replacement projects which operate solely on battery electric
power can include the purchase price of one charging unit per eTRU, including the unit
and charging cable, mount and/or pedestal. EPA will fund up to 45% of these eligible
costs. Ineligible costs include power distribution to the pedestal, electrical panels and
their installation, upgrades to existing electrical panels or electrical service, transform-
ers and their installation, wiring/conduit and its installation, electricity, operation and
maintenance, stationary energy storage systems that power the equipment (e.g. batteries)
and their installation, and on-site power generation systems that power the equipment
(e.g., solar and wind power generation equipment) and their installation.
Stationary TRU Replacement Projects:
•	Scrapping TRU gen sets and running grid power to the refrigeration unit. Eligible costs
for grid electric powered equipment replacement projects can include the purchase and
installation of certain equipment required for power delivery directly related to the new
equipment. Eligible costs include design and engineering, electrical panels, upgrades to
existing electrical panels or electrical service, transformers, wiring/conduit, and instal-
lation. EPA will fund up to 45% of these eligible costs. Ineligible costs include power
distribution to the property line, electricity, operation and maintenance, stationary
energy storage systems that power the equipment (e.g. batteries) and their installation,
and on-site power generation systems that power the equipment (e.g., solar and wind
power generation equipment) and their installation; or
•	Scrapping a TRU, installing a new eTRU, and running grid power to the eTRU. Eligible
costs include the eTRU and the purchase and installation of certain equipment required
for power delivery directly related to the new equipment. Eligible costs include design
and engineering, electrical panels, upgrades to existing electrical panels or electrical
service, transformers, wiring/conduit, and installation. EPA will fund up to 45% of these
eligible costs. Ineligible costs include power distribution to the property line, electricity,
operation and maintenance, stationary energy storage systems that power the equipment
(e.g. batteries) and their installation, and on-site power generation systems that power
the equipment (e.g., solar and wind power generation equipment) and their installation.
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Electrified Parking Space (EPS) or Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) Projects:
EPSs provide off-board electrical power to operate a plug-in capable refrigeration system that
would otherwise be powered by an engine. Eligible costs include the purchase and installa-
tion of the EPS unit, mount and/or pedestal, and plug-in cable and certain equipment re-
quired for power delivery directly related to the new equipment. Eligible costs include design
and engineering, design and engineering, electrical panels, upgrades to existing electrical
panels or electrical service, transformers, wiring/conduit, and installation. EPA will fund up
to 30% of these eligible costs. Ineligible costs include power distribution to the property line,
electricity, operation and maintenance, stationary
energy storage systems that power the equipment (e.g. batteries) and their installation, and
on-site power generation systems that power the equipment (e.g., solar and wind power gen-
eration equipment) and their installation.
An EPS project may be implemented as a stand-alone project, as described above. Or, EPS
may be implemented in combination with the replacement of TRUs with electric standby
TRUs or hybrid electric TRUs. In this latter example, the EPS costs may be funded at 30%
and the TRU costs may be funded at 25%.
Please note that although DERA grant funds and matching funds cannot be used for station-
ary energy storage systems that power the equipment (e.g. batteries) and their installation,
and DERA grant funds and matching funds cannot be used for on-site power generation sys-
tems that power the equipment (e.g., solar and wind power generation equipment) and their
installation, applicants and their partners may add these components at their own expense
outside the scope of the grant.
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