Webasto Truck and Bus Heaters: The Smart Way to Meet California's Diesel Idling Restrictions

Complete off-idle heating and cooling solution to be unveiled at Mid-America Trucking Show

FENTON, Mich., Feb. 8 -- Webasto engine preheat systems, truck cab "engine-off" auxiliary heaters and bus heating systems offer fleets and owner operators a smart, affordable solution to the recently announced California's Air Resources Board restrictions on idling.

Webasto Heavy Duty Thermo truck and bus heaters fully meet the requirements of the new legislation and significantly reduce fuel costs, lower maintenance expenses and ensure safe, reliable engine starts.

The California Air Resources Board recently announced that it would begin enforcing its idling truck rules on February 1, 2005. Under this legislation, the driver of any diesel-fueled commercial motor vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds shall not idle the vehicle's engine for more than five minutes when not engaged in work activities. Buses are restricted to 10 minutes prior to passenger boarding and when passengers are on board. Similar to other ARB rules, the idling rule will be applied to any truck or bus operating within the state's borders regardless of where they were registered.

"These rules present a huge challenge to fleets and owner operators alike: to meet the regulation yet still provide interior warmth and comfort, particularly on overnight stops or early morning starts in cold areas. But Webasto truck and bus heaters offer a smart solution," said Rolf Lichtner, Director of Marketing Services, Webasto Product North America of Fenton, Mich. "These heaters meet the regulation, are powered from the vehicle's fuel tank, provide heat and comfort for the driver and passengers, are reliable and easy to operate, maintain and service.

"Best of all, Webasto heaters do all this and reduce fuel consumption considerably," said Lichtner. "According to ARB data, the average diesel heavy engine burns about one gallon of fuel per hour as it idles. That same gallon used by a Webasto heater would provide up to 20 hours of heating and zero use of fuel with cooling."

Idle restrictions also constrain operators' ability to cool their vehicles in hot weather. Webasto has an off-idle cooling solution it will announce at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., March 31 to April 2. "We have a major innovation that will provide cooling for the interior of cabs without the need to idle the vehicle engine, or operate the vehicle's auxiliary power unit," said Lichtner. "Full details will be given in Louisville, but this is a very significant advance. In conjunction with our heater, it provides a complete heating and cooling solution that meets the California ARB idling rule."

Webasto offers a wide variety of heater units to meet the requirements of both heavy trucks and buses.

For trucks, there is a choice of two forced air heating systems for sleeper cabs that provide continuous warmth efficiently and affordably. Webasto also provides three different engine coolant heaters that offer engine preheating and supplemental cab heat. The two approaches can be combined into the Webasto Tandem 717 heating system for most Class 7 and 8 trucks for a complete pre-heat and cab heating solution.

Webasto provides bus heating systems suitable for any size bus, whether for transit, motorcoach, shuttle or school usage. As with trucks, Webasto offers both forced air and coolant heaters in different sizes with timers and remote controls to facilitate automatic usage.

"From sub-zero mornings to chilly evenings, our heaters go to work before drivers arrive, preheating the coolant in the engine and doing so is fully within the California ARB idling rules," said Lichtner. "As bus operators know, nothing is more important than the comfort of drivers and passengers. Webasto coolant heaters defrost windshields and warm interiors without idling for hours and provide a good buffer to heat loss from frequent passenger boarding."

The recent ARB rule to restrict diesel idling follows a similar ARB effort to control emissions from idling vehicles near schools that went into effect in 2003. That rule requires school buses and other heavy-duty vehicle operators to turn off their engines immediately whenever they are within 100 feet of a school. The California ARB is not the first to adopt idling rules: to date 20 other states and cities have enacted such rules.

Webasto Heavy Duty Thermo systems are available through Webasto Authorized Thermo Installers. Webasto Product North America, Inc., based in Fenton, Michigan, provides a wide range of sunroofs, thermosystems and other products to the passenger vehicle and light and heavy duty truck aftermarkets. It is a subsidiary of Webasto AG, one of the world's largest suppliers of open roof systems and thermosystems to the automotive industry. The 103-year-old company is based in Stockdorf, Germany and employs over 5,000 people in 43 countries. For additional information go to http://www.webasto.us/ .