Three Webasto Non-Idle Heating Products Earn California ARB Approval

Air Resources Board (CARB) Approves Webasto Products Well Ahead of Jan. 1, 2008 California No-Idle Deadline

FENTON, Mich., Nov. 9 -- Webasto Product North America, a global leader in heating and cooling solutions for the light and heavy-duty transportation industries, announces it received approval for several products that clearly meet or out-perform new California standards for air quality scheduled to take effect January 1, 2008.

Webasto's products are among the earliest anti-idle devices to receive approval for CARB's new ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) idling emissions reduction requirements.

Approved heaters include the Webasto Air Top 2000 S and Air Top 2000 ST compartment air heaters and Thermo Top Z/C (TSL 17) engine coolant pre-heater. A fourth Webasto product, BlueCool Truck, which provides cold air to cool a truck's bunk in hot weather, did not need review because it has no emissions.

"Webasto's most popular Air Heaters, sold as original equipment by a number of OE Heavy Duty Truck producers, as well as through aftermarket channels, surpassed all emission categories from CARB, and many measured in a range well below LEV II regulated levels," said Don Kanneth, General Manager of Webasto's Commercial Vehicle Division. "For example in one category, particulate matter (PM), output was so low that you could theoretically park 20 Class 8 trucks outfitted with Webasto Air Top 2000 S Heaters next to each other and the combined emissions would still meet the CARB requirements for just one truck. We had other emission categories that tested even better."

The New Law

In the Golden State there has been an aggressive and long-standing effort to reduce unnecessary harmful greenhouse gases. The new CARB ULEV II regulation requires that all fuel-operated heaters must meet the new rules for any Class 3-8 equipped truck registered in California and those entering its state borders. The regulation will also affect other commercial vehicles; those with a GVW over 10,000 pounds.

As of January 1, no truck will be allowed to idle more than five minutes (in non-traffic situations) in California. A mandatory shutdown at the five- minute mark will be required. Because a main goal is to limit engine idling during mandatory rest-time for drivers, the new regulation expands beyond fuel-operated heaters (FOH) to Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) and any system which produces emissions during the shutdown period. These products are very popular with truck drivers by providing creature comforts during times they are resting between long drives -- capabilities they could receive from an idling Class 8 engine that burns up to a gallon of fuel per hour. All no-idle devices must meet CARB's exhaust gas limits on nitrous oxide, particulate matter, carbon dioxide and other gases that are damaging to air quality. The California system is so well regarded that up to five or more additional states have stated they will follow CARB's lead on such regulations.

"We appreciate CARB's leadership and work in the area of improved air quality and fuel savings, and we found the organization to be very professional and diligent," said Jim Quesenberry, Webasto's manager, homologation and certification.

Products Keep Truckers Comfortable and in Compliance

"Webasto provides an entire suite of no-idle heating and cooling products that provide driver and occupant comfort 12 months a year all across North America, and now we are approved for use in the state with the strongest emissions and anti-idling requirements," said John Thomas, Webasto vice president of marketing. "We are proud of the advanced Fuel Operated Heater technology and we're pleased with how far below the CARB regulations we fall. Fuel Operated Heaters are truly a "green-green" solution -- green environmentally and green financially. When combined with BlueCool Truck, the industry gets a winning combination for idle reduction that's less expensive to purchase and operate than APUs."

Webasto's Air Top Heaters address driver comfort by efficiently heating sleeper cabs without idling the vehicle engine. Air Top 2000 S and Air Top 2000 ST heaters operate up to 20-hours on a gallon of fuel, are extremely quiet in operation, and can typically pay for themselves in one season of use.

The Webasto Thermo Top Z/C (TSL 17) provides reliable on-demand engine preheating. This system heats and circulates coolant through the engine block. The Thermo Top/TSL 17 significantly reduces fuel consumption, cold engine start damage and exhaust emissions. It is a self contained system that is compact and easily mounts in the engine compartment.

Designed for no-idle bunk cooling while the driver sleeps, BlueCool Truck is charged while the truck is moving down the road. It provides cool cabin air via stored thermal energy, and uses minimal 12-volt power to run fans and circulate the coolant. The system uses no diesel fuel and therefore produces no emissions during the cooling operation because it runs independently of the OEM air conditioning system.

Webasto Product North America, Inc., based in Fenton, Michigan, provides a wide range of thermosystems and other products to the heavy-duty truck OEM and aftermarkets, as well as passenger vehicle, RV, defense, cargo and marine industries. 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 106-year old company is based in Stockdorf, Germany and employs over 6,200 people in 43 countries. For additional information go to www.webasto-us.com or call (800) 215-7010.