In the next months, cold winter weather will be an inescapable fact of life throughout most of North America. For those working in, on, and around work trucks, the cold can reduce vehicle reliability, human productivity, cargo integrity, and can be just plain uncomfortable.
A HOT MARKET
A cold vehicle can be slow to start and agonizing to sit in as the engine slowly warms. Cold engines may not only delay the start of a crew’s workday but can also negatively impact a vehicle’s operation and emissions with adverse effects on its diesel particulate filter (DPF) performance.
Today, advanced fuel-operated heating (FOH) products offer fleets and workers an intelligent, comfortable solution that reduces vehicle wear and DPF maintenance costs. Webasto Thermo and Comfort North America has a variety of heaters that deliver heat to interior cargo areas, workspaces, and passenger compartments.
Webasto’s economical FOH solutions are swiftly growing in popularity among leading OEMs, bodybuilders, and fleets that employ the company’s turnkey kits to heat box trucks, service bodies, and augment the factory heating systems in Ford Transit, RAM ProMaster, and Mercedes Sprinter vans.
“Webasto pioneered the development of fuel-operated air heating technology, introducing the world’s first commercially available unit in the 1950s,” Mark Denny, president and CEO of Webasto Thermo and Comfort North America, says. “The company produces more than a million heaters a year and remains a leading innovator of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems for medium-duty, heavy-duty commercial vehicles, off-road, and construction equipment, as well as watercraft.”
COLD HARD FACTS
For box trucks and vans with segregated cargo or workspaces, Webasto offers stand-alone kits that keep cargo and workers comfortable. Webasto air heaters use the vehicle’s existing fuel source but operate independently from its gas or diesel engine, which means the cargo space can be heated without the need to constantly or intermittently idle the engine.
Now, delivery trucks waiting for dock access no longer have to idle as they wait. And, service vehicles can provide periodic warmth for their crews as they perform duties around the periphery. The reduction in idling alone can conceivably save many fleets thousands, if not millions of dollars, and help them comply with ever more stringent anti-idling laws.
Webasto FOH systems include high-capacity units like the Air Top Evo 40 and Air Top Evo 55. These low-energy-consumption units are not only efficient, but quiet. These heaters are ideal for idle and parked vehicles and for use between work shifts. These FOH systems are economical solutions that prevent cargo from freezing and provide the added benefit of both fuel savings and reduced emissions.
For service vehicles, Webasto’s Air Top 2000 STC can easily heat side compartments. The heaters are compact enough to fit inside the main compartment and can also be mounted in or under utility shelves or other structures. As with other Webasto fuel-operated heaters, they can be programmed to maintain a set temperature so that tools and gear are always ready for use.
Featured Image: Webasto Thermo and Comfort North America offers a variety of fuel-operated heaters for interior cargo areas, workspaces, and passenger compartments.
Above: For air heaters, the Webasto SmarTemp 2.0 Control is an all-in-one temperature management system that enables operators to dial in a desired temperature and features programmable heater start times. For coolant heaters, Webasto’s SmarTemp Control fx 2.0 features programmable run times, USB diagnostics, and is packaged in a similar ergonomic design with intuitive dial and pushbutton controls and large backlit LED display screen.
HOT COOLANT HEATERS
The Webasto Thermo Top C engine pre-heater warms the engine and fluids to optimum operating temperature before the engine is started and the day’s work begins. When operators start a pre-heated engine, they immediately get hot air from the HVAC system so they don’t have to wait for the engine to warm up. The system can be controlled manually or programmed to automatically turn on and off three times in a 24-hour period.
Using as little as one gallon of fuel in a 10-hour period, a Webasto Thermo Top C provides a pre-heated engine, as well as reduces engine wear, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions. A Webasto engine pre-heater also delivers a fast ROI in form of reduced DPF maintenance. An engine pre-heater like the Thermo Top C increases DPF performance, extends maintenance cycles, reduces filter overloading, and minimizes face plugging.
Webasto coolant heaters can even serve double duty by warming interior spaces and cargo. Webasto has chassis-mounted FOH systems that employ efficient coolant heating to warm constituent liquid cargos, as in lubrication truck applications. For instance, a coolant heater can be used to heat and circulate coolant to a Hydra Liner heating element from Arctic Fox to warm multiple fluid tanks, preventing them from freezing in cold weather.
DIAL-IN CONTROLS
Webasto fuel-operated air heating systems are compatible with a rheostat or an optional SmarTemp Control 2.0 controller seen on pg 33. The Webasto SmarTemp 2.0 Control is a compact, easy-to-use, all-in-one temperature management system that allows operators to dial in the temperature they want and the device does the rest.
The system features programmable heater start time and has a large backlit LCD screen that displays set temperature and ambient temperature. The unit has a USB connection for PC diagnostics and displays heater fault codes that alert users of any trouble. SmarTemp 2.0 Control units offer password protection options for preventive maintenance reminders, low voltage disconnect threshold, adjustable run time, and Fahrenheit and Celsius measurement preferences. Menu languages are available in English, French, or Spanish.
For its coolant heaters, Webasto offers the SmarTemp Control fx 2.0. The equally advanced and feature-rich fx control unit also provides the convenience and flexibility of programmable run times, USB diagnostics, and is packaged in a similar ergonomic design with intuitive dial and pushbutton controls and large backlit LED display screen.
VEHICLE-SPECIFIC KITS
For warmer months, the company also has vehicle-specific HVAC and VAC cooling-only systems that integrate seamlessly with factory systems. Climate control in vans and box truck cargo or mobile work areas can be difficult to maintain, particularly in challenging hot- and cold-weather conditions. Webasto designed effective HVAC, VAC, and AC only solutions that maintain operator comfort and protect cargo from temperature extremes.
Webasto offers fuel-operated heaters, tie-in heating/cooling, and stand-alone HVAC solution kits that seamlessly integrate with Ford Transit, RAM ProMaster, and Mercedes Sprinter vans. The low-profile, high-performance kits come totally complete, are vehicle-specific in design, and interface with native OEM HVAC mechanical and electrical systems.
Webasto HVAC, engine-off interior, and coolant heaters have compact components, require minimal space claim, and operate at a very low noise level. Webasto HVAC and AC products are engineered following industry best practices for safe and efficient integration on vehicles. Turnkey vehicle specific kits are designed to optimize performance with low installation times and high reliability. Comprehensive installation instructions, training, and technical support are all part of the package with Webasto.
WEBASTO SOLUTIONS
Webasto offers a wide variety of cooling solutions to address an endless variety of applications. Standard tie-in solutions include the London and Ibiza HVAC kits, Oakland VAC, and Vancouver VAC kits. High-capacity independent systems include the Kiev and Moscow HVAC kits. All kits come with manual dial controls and an optional digital controller is also available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more about Webasto Thermo and Comfort North America, visit www.webasto-comfort.com/en-us/.
MODERN WORK TRUCK SOLUTIONS: DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE
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