What is an APU?
An APU is a truck mounted generator with heat/air or a specially
designed circulation system used to; 1) provide power, cab comfort and
save fuel by not having to idle your truck when parked, loading, or
unloading; 2) save on maintenance and extend the life of your truck
motor; and 3) meet the new anti-idling laws.
The New Anti-idling Laws
Did you know that every pre-2007 class 7 & 8 truck emits more than 10
tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year while idling alone? That's
right, 10 tons. Truck anti-idling laws went into effect in California in
January 2008, and are in effect today in more than 30 jurisdictions
countrywide. The laws impact almost all commercial diesel trucks – from
10,000 GVW and above - regardless of when they were built. Trucks idle
to provide heating, cooling, and accessory power during loading,
unloading, or over-nighting. Trucks in California can no longer idle more
than 5 minutes. The anti-idling initiative is about vehicle pollution and
Greenhouse gases, and it is not going to go away any time soon -
regardless of what we like or want. In California and the western states
alone, the number of trucks that are subjected to these laws is in the
millions. Truckers need to use some form of auxiliary power to provide
AC, Heat & power during shut-down periods. To see a comprehensive,
search-able database on anti-idling laws, restrictions and fines across
the US, click here.
Who Builds APUs and What Makes This One Different?
There are about 15 companies in the US who build Auxiliary Power Units
for trucks. The demand for APUs began in the 1980s, when companies
began building and marketing large (7 to 14 foot) camper/sleeper cabs
for long-haul diesel trucks. Standard truck heating and cooling systems
were not sufficient to heat and cool these large units. Auxiliary power
was needed. Until the anti-idling laws went into effect, these large,
custom-trucks were the primary target of the APU companies in America.
The APUs built for these trucks required 5kw or more of power. As such,
all of the APU manufacturers used 8 to 16 HP diesel motors that could
produce enough power to meet these requirements. Most motor-driven
truck APUs today are still powered by diesel motors that, in general,
produce more power than is needed by the modern, more power-
efficient trucks. That may be why they cost so much, and why the
industry, in general, has resisted buying them. Diesel APUs sell for
$8,000 to as much as $15,000 if CARB compliant.
What makes the LifeForce APU different is that it is an adaptation of an
age old, highly proven and refined generator technology for recreational
vehicles. The gen-set used in the APU is manufactured for LifeForce by
America's leading RV generator producer - Generac Power Systems.
This gen-set has been installed and proven on more than 100,000
vehicles over hundreds of millions of miles. This makes the LifeForce
APU the most tested, refined, and reliable APU ever built, yet it sells for
less than almost all others.
There are several manufacturers who have built units that are battery
powered. In general, according to truckers who use battery APUs, they
do not provide adequate cooling in hot climates, and they must add
diesel-fired heaters for heat, which adds cost. With heat and AC, battery
systems cost $6,500 to $9,500+, and have a limited run time between
recharging. They also cannot supply much AC power for accessories - at
least not for sustained periods of time. Battery powered APU
manufacturers claim that their units consume no fuel. This is simply a
fallacy. The laws of energy exchange dictate that it takes more energy
to charge the batteries than the amount of energy they store and
deliver. And where does that charging energy come from? Your diesel-
fired truck motor. You will burn the added fuel necessary to charge
them. You just pay for it in reduced fuel mileage, which is the hidden
expense.
And finally, the Chinese have found their way to the US APU market in
recent years, with knock-off diesel APUs that are selling for +-$6,500. But
what you save in the initial cost, will likely be lost in the reduced lifespan
of the components.
To review other the benefits of Propane vs. Diesel, click here
America's 1st Alternative-Fuel Truck APU
Questions??
| Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. LifeForce Energy Corporation 485 Victor Way, Salinas, California 93907. (831) 422-2290 (831) 422-2299-fax |
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