LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Carrier Transicold has signed an exclusive agreement to distribute the Teleflex Proheat Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).

The APU will be badged the Carrier Transicold ComfortPro, announced Ignacio Aguerrevere, director of marketing and product development with Carrier Transicold, at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

“We believe the addition of the ComfortPro APU to our product line represents a significant development for the entire industry,” Augerrevere said at a press conference.

The company says it sought out the best APU on the market to attach its name to. The ComfortPro will allow fleets or owner/operators to reduce their idling time by up to 90 per cent, saving thousands of dollars per year in fuel, Aguerrevere said.

In fact, he said an average truck idles 2,000 hours per year and at US$2.50 per gallon of diesel that costs about $6,000 per truck each year – or about $30,000 over the five year life cycle of the vehicle. Aguerrevere pointed out that could add up to nearly a quarter million dollars over the career of an owner/operator.

What makes the ComfortPro stand out from other APUs on the market is its all-electric infrastructure, said Aguerrevere. It shares the Deltex hybrid diesel-electric technology that can be found on Carrier’s Vector 1800MT trailer refrigeration unit.

The ComfortPro offers six functions including: cooling; heating; engine warming; the ability to power household accessories; shorepower capabilities; and the ability to charge a truck’s battery. And because it’s generator-driven, it doesn’t draw on the vehicle’s battery, he added.

The ComfortPro unit also utilizes a sealed air condition compressor which is located inside the cab where it’s protected from the elements. Aguerrevere pointed out the AC compressor is prone to defects and in most APUs it’s exposed to road salt, slush, rain water and other contaminants.

“It’s a very harsh environment out there,” he said.

The APU is also narrower than other models, occupying just 18.5 inches of frame rail space. Aguerrevere said that’s about 25 per cent less than other APUs. It weighs about 375 lbs and is designed to last for the typical five year life cycle of the truck.