Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/187653
EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT APUS No idle? No problem While APUs may be optional for many drivers, APU makers say driver comfort isn't By Jack Roberts S mart drivers know that idling simply is untenable in an age of $4-a-gallon diesel, and more states are cracking down on the practice as noise and environmental concerns grow. The problem, though, is that idling – hated as it may be by many – served an important purpose for many years: Keeping long-haul drivers comfortable in their cabs during rest periods. The path forward in the no-idle age is still being written. Shorepower is one promising option, but with limited slots available at truck stops, many drivers continue to turn to auxiliary power units for comfort options. These add-on mini-HVAC systems use either battery power or a small diesel motor to power the APU while providing with full climate control and electricity. Fuel savings aside, no-idle regula- Hodyon's Dynasys APU has a nonintegrated fourcomponent design and a mounting system that can be located on either side of the truck and behind fairings. Idle Free's APU systems can be installed at the option center for both new Mack and Volvo trucks. tions at the state and local levels make it unlawful to idle in many areas. "Add the environmental impact of idling vs. a battery-operated system, and you have a truly compelling argument to use an APU," says Bill Gordon of Bergstrom, which offers the Nite system. under bunks or in cabinets, so there is minimal effect on space. The Nite system's four deep-cycle absorbed glass mat batteries mount on the frame rail or between the frame rails in a variety of available boxes. "The heater is typically installed in the tool compartment or frame rails," says John Dennehy, vice president of marketing and communication for Espar Products. It draws a small amount of power from the battery bank – about 1 amp per hour – and fuel from the existing diesel fuel tank. "The heater then works very much like a home furnace," Dennehy says. "There is a Calculating the costs At $8,000 to $10,000 per unit, APUs aren't cheap. But the good news, APU manufacturers say, is that the return on investment begins immediately, and payback for the system happens relatively quickly. For a $9,500 PowerCube APU, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculates a fuel savings of $8,600 per year based on average use. Over three years, that 171 percent return on investment is "a big motivator to drivers looking at long-term costs," says Jill Tolstedt, of PowerCube. The units take up space, but Gordon says that in most cases, it's not a major issue. On factoryinstalled APUs, the manufacturer has designed space for the units, such as Bergstrom's Nite System APUs are factory-installed at both Navistar and Freightliner. thermostat housed in the bunk that the driver controls to his desires." Hodyon Inc. says its Dynasys APU has a nonintegrated four-component design that helps speed the installation process. The mounting system is built to offer flexibility to accommodate all current Class 8 truck frames and can be located on either side of the truck and behind fairings. The APU uses R134a hermetic-style A/C and electric heating to provide year- 56 | Overdrive | October 2013 Equipment spotlight_1013.indd 56 9/30/13 9:31 PM