PURKEYS DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL WAYS SOLAR POWER CAN HELP FLEETS SAVE MONEY

Purkeys is very excited about the possibilities waiting to be unlocked in solar technology. Although the practical application of the technology is not yet where it needs to be, the potential for energy efficiency is undeniable. According to Purkeys CEO Justin Purkey, more advancements in solar technology must take place in order to ensure that fleets can reduce costs through its use.

Purkeys is currently researching the best applications of solar technology to ensure that the power can actually help fleets save money. According to Purkeys Chief Engineer Dale Henningson, they are working to discover how much fuel could potentially be saved by using solar technology and quantifying how much that could save a fleet.

One potential application for solar power would be to use it to supplement a liftgate charging system. A panel can charge the liftgate batteries as it sits on a lot, ensuring the batteries stay fully charged. Although the technology isn’t reliable enough to keep the batteries charged during heavy usage, it can be a good supplement to the charging system already in place. Dale says, “Any energy that is generated from the sun is energy that is not required to be generated from burning the diesel fuel.”

Purkeys is currently collecting data and developing models that identify situations where solar applications are beneficial. They hope to show what the cost savings are because, at the end of the day, that’s what fleets want to know. According to Justin, “They want to know how to minimize their costs, and we’re trying to put all of the factors into these models, all those variables, so that we can give them an honest answer of real savings”.