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As part of the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, the Fleet Test and Evaluation (FT&E) team is working with Schneider National, Freightliner, and Webasto Thermosystems to evaluate trucks equipped with Webasto's cab heating and cooling systems.
Cab Heating and Cooling Technology
Webasto manufactures the cab heating and cooling systems that will be used in this evaluation. The Air Top 2000 is a self-contained diesel fuel heater that heats the truck cab when the engine is off, eliminating the need for long-term idling. Similarly, the Webasto Cab Cooler eliminates the need for idling to cool the cab. This new product achieves engine-off cooling via a cooling storage technology that is charged by the existing air conditioning system during normal vehicle operation. To learn more about some of Webasto's climate control systems, visit their truck equipment page.
Fleet Evaluation: Schneider National
The climate control systems will be installed in Freightliner class 8 heavy-duty trucks: 100 trucks will be equipped with the Air Top 2000 cab heater, and 20 will be equipped with the Cab Cooler. The trucks will be operated by Schneider National, a Wisconsin-based provider of truckload and intermodal services throughout North America whose trucks average 480 hours of idling per year. Beginning in 2004, the FT&E team will evaluate the 120 test trucks and a similar number of control trucks in cooperation with Schneider National, Freightliner, and Webasto.
For more information on idle reduction activities, contact Ken Proc.
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