Hammond Air Conditioning of Ingersoll, Ont. has developed Arctic Breeze Truck A/C, a battery-powered cooling system thatís said to be quiet and vibration-free while using sustainable energy resources. Systems are available for both sleeper and day cabs. Systems come in a boxed kit with all necessary components included and can be installed in 5-6 hours. Hammond claims a potential payback of less than 12 months and as few as six.

Designed to maintain the overall temperature of the truck cab once itís been shut down, the Arctic Breeze cooling system draws a low 45 amps and provides 6800 BTU of cooling. Based on a duty cycle of 50 to 60%, the system consumes only 350 watts per hour on average, the company says. Powered by up to 6 truck batteries, keeps drivers cool from 10 to 12 hours, depending upon factors like the time of day, color of the truck, window tinting, and how many accessories are running. Systems come with a battery-protection switch that automatically shuts off the A/C at 12.2 amps, ensuring that there will always be power to turn over the engines.
 
Made of 1/8-in. aluminum, the compressor/condenser box can be mounted directly behind the cab or hung off frame rails with the included universal brackets. A battery box with all necessary universal brackets for external mounting is an optional item. The system evaporator can be mounted on a shelf, directly on the back wall of the cab, or in a storage compartment. The system weighs 105 lb.
 
Prototypes have been working in fleet applications doing long hauls through Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and California.