Reduced fuel consumption and fuel-related costs

Discretionary idling for a typical fleet sleeper truck can consume as much as 3,000 gallons of diesel per year.

Depending on diesel prices, this means the Idle Free electric APU can deliver annual savings of up to $10,000.

Reduced engine maintenance

The Idle Free electric APU eliminates the extra engine wear and tear associated with discretionary idling. This leads to reduced maintenance costs and fewer oil changes.

The Idle Free electric APU can also make a difference in the number of miles a truck or school bus can be driven before major engine work or under-the-hood part replacement is needed.

Short payback period

Significant fuel cost savings (and other system-specific efficiencies) translate into a payback period of as little as one year for a sleeper truck pulling a dry van. For a sleeper truck pulling a refrigerated trailer, the payback period is even shorter.

With discretionary idling, there is no payback. This is because extra diesel and maintenance costs just keeping adding up year after year.

Compliance with anti-idling laws and CARB

The Idle Free electric APU complies with all anti-idle laws and is California Air Resources Board (CARB)-compliant.

EPA SmartWay-verified technology

The Idle Free electric APU is an EPA SmartWay-verified technology. SmartWay-verified technologies are the cleanest and most fuel-efficient available on the market.

Reduced CO2 emissions

By eliminating discretionary idling, the Idle Free electric APU greatly reduces truck CO2 emissions. It also offers drivers and fleet operators an opportunity to promote their environmental credentials to increasingly discerning customers and communities.

Works with any truck

The Idle Free electric APU works with any make or model of truck.

Idle elimination, not just idle reduction

The Idle Free electric APU completely eliminates discretionary idling.

In contrast, a diesel APU is just another diesel engine that drivers need to run when the truck's engine is off. This is idle reduction, not idle elimination.

Lower operating costs

Operating costs for the Idle Free electric APU are minimal compared to diesel APUs.

Specifically, the Idle Free heat system consumes approximately 6 ounces of diesel per hour (assuming it is running continuously, which is unlikely in practice). The A/C system doesn't consume any diesel and therefore costs nothing to operate.

In contrast, a diesel APU consumes up to 600 gallons of diesel per year during regular, expected operation.

No maintenance costs

There are no maintenance costs associated with the Idle Free electric APU once it is installed.

In contrast, a diesel APU is a mechanical engine that, like any other type of engine, requires regularly scheduled maintenance.

No-cost CARB compliance

The Idle Free electric APU is CARB-compliant by design.

In contrast, a diesel APU is CARB-compliant only after a separate, expensive upgrade.

Flexible, modular design

The Idle Free electric APU uses a modular design that delivers key functions via separate modules. This allows drivers and fleet operators to customize their systems to meet their driving conditions, budget, and investment timeline.

Easy installation

Each system module comes pre-assembled and wired with quick connect couplings. For example, the A/C unit uses two pre-charged, quick-connect Freon lines that can be installed without a certified A/C technician. In addition, many key modules are mounted externally.

As a result, it is possible to install the Idle Free electric APU in approximately eight hours—half the time required for other systems.

Low profile

The Idle Free electric APU is designed with the structure and space limitations of a typical commercial truck in mind. The result is a low-profile system that weighs approximately 479 pounds for the a battery-based system (150 pounds for the reefer-based system), requires only 18 inches of frame rail space, and takes up less than 25 percent of the space under the bunk.

More power options

Both the a battery-based system and a reefer-based system include a shore power outlet. This means drivers have at least two alternatives to discretionary idling when truck stop electrification (TSE) services are available.

This also means unlimited run time for the battery-based Idle Free electric APU when shore power is available (the reefer-based system has unlimited run time because it uses energy from the reefer unit).

Reduced CO2 emissions

By eliminating discretionary idling, the Idle Free electric APU greatly reduces truck CO2 emissions. It also offers drivers and fleet operators an opportunity to promote their environmental credentials to increasingly discerning customers and communities.

Access to energy produced by the reefer unit

With the patented Reefer Link™ technology, drivers pulling a reefer orrefrigerated trailer can eliminate discretionary idling using energy produced by a reefer unit—energy already being produced to protect temperature-controlled cargo.

The reefer-based system offers drivers unlimited run time for heat and A/C as well as an unlimited supply of 120 volt AC electricity.

Backup alternator power for reefer units

Thanks to the patented Reefer Link technology, the Idle Free electric APU provides backup alternator power for both the reefer unit and the truck's starter batteries in the event one or the other fails.

Idle elimination, not just idle reduction

The Idle Free electric APU completely eliminates discretionary idling for all HVAC and driver hotel needs—throughout the year and in any climate.

In contrast, other electric APUs only reduce idling because they provide energy for A/C but not heat. Other electric APUs also can't provide 120 volt AC electricity to meet a driver's hotel needs.

Constant AC electricity

The Idle Free electric APU uses an inverter to convert 12 volt DC into 120 volt AC electricity. This provides a constant source of power to run system components and other electronic devices using the included 120 volt GFI-protected power strip.

In contrast, other electric APUs are 12 volt DC powered, limiting their ability to meet the 120 volt electricity needs of drivers.

Flexible, modular design

The Idle Free electric APU uses a modular design that delivers key functions via separate modules. This allows drivers and fleet operators to customize their systems to meet their driving conditions, budget, and investment timeline.

Easy installation

Each system module comes pre-assembled and wired with quick connect couplings. For example, the A/C unit uses two pre-charged, quick-connect Freon lines that can be installed without a certified A/C technician. In addition, many key modules are mounted externally.

As a result, it is possible to install the Idle Free electric APU in approximately eight hours—half the time required for other systems.

Low profile

The Idle Free electric APU is designed with the structure and space limitations of a typical commercial truck in mind. The result is a low-profile system that weighs approximately 479 pounds for the battery-based system (150 pounds for the reefer-based system), requires only 18 inches of frame rail space, and takes up less than 25 percent of the space under the bunk.

High performance

The Idle Free electric APU is designed to not only eliminate idling, but also to deliver exceptional performance while using less energy in general.

For example, Idle Free's patent-pending A/C unit delivers 10,000 BTUs—more than twice the power of the A/C unit offered by the largest electric APU battery-based competitor. It is also more energy efficient, which enables it to run 10 or more hours when powered by the battery-based system (system run time is unlimited for the reefer-based system).

Works with any truck

The Idle Free electric APU works with any make or model of truck.

More power options

Both the battery-based system and the reefer-based system include a shore power outlet. This means drivers have at least two alternatives to discretionary idling when truck stop electrification (TSE) services are available.

This also means unlimited run time for the battery-based Idle Free electric APU when shore power is available (the reefer-based system has unlimited run time because it uses energy from the reefer unit).

Access to energy produced by the reefer unit

With the patented Reefer Link™ technology, drivers pulling a refrigerated trailer can eliminate discretionary idling using energy produced by a reefer unit—energy already being produced to protect temperature-controlled cargo.

The reefer-based system offers drivers unlimited run time for heat and A/C as well as an unlimited supply of 120 volt AC electricity.

Backup alternator power for reefer units

Thanks to the patented Reefer Link technology, the Idle Free electric APU provides backup alternator power for both the reefer unit and the truck's starter batteries in the event one or the other fails.