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No-idling solutions save money and keep drivers comfortable. Cutting fuel costs is the number one reason to consider this solution. Reducing idling also means fewer hours and less drive engine maintenance, too.
A diesel-powered axillary power unit (APU) may use just 20-to-30 percent of the fuel that a truck's main engine uses while idling. Batteryonly solutions use no fuel at all charging during on-highway engine operation to supply power while the driver is at rest. Following the lead of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), more states and some municipalities are enacting regulations that limit a truck's engine idle time to mere minutes. (See an updated list at www.fleetequipmentmag. com/files/issues/2008/IdleRegs08. pdf.) Failure to comply with strict idle limits can result in hefty fines.
There's also a growing demand for larger, "homier" sleeper cabs, and that larger volume places greater demands on cab heating and cooling systems while drivers are at rest. Drivers now have more electrically powered creature comforts onboard, like TVs and microwaves, plus electronic devices like laptop computers, cell phones and MP3 players that need charging. This greater energy demand comes at a time when fuel prices are soaring. To supply this power without using the highway engine, there are numerous no-idle options. Some systems use a small diesel engine to power an air conditioner compressor and drive an alternator to charge batteries, deriving AC-power via a DC-inverter. Others use an all-battery approach to power air conditioning and hotel loads, including a fuel-fired cab heater if the unit is operated in colder climates. Some units are stand-alone solutions; others tie into the existing cab systems. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.
Which is right for your fleet? Beyond the basic up-front cost to con- sider is how soon to expect return on investment (ROI) and additional maintenance costs. There are also installation considerations in spec'ing, such as locating the unit for proper operation and ease of mainte- nance, the possible need for addition- al in-cab ducting, exhaust routing, fuel supply lines, controls, and elec- trical circuits, plus accommodating the additional weight. If you want a block heater for your main engine, it complicates the decision process all the more. If you have a 2007 or later power unit, you'll need to...