ORLANDO, Fla. — Phillips Industries suggests that it has a better way to charge lift gate batteries, with a new system that will draw the required charge from the tractor or the reefer.

Multiple stops in an urban area can limit the available charging time for lift gate batteries, but the Permalogic Selector System can charge the batteries regardless of whether the truck’s key is on or off.

If the tractor battery can deliver more than 12.2 volts, that electrical power will be delivered over a dual pole system. If the tractor battery drops below that point and the reefer battery has more than 13.2 volts, however, the system automatically begins drawing electrical power from the reefer. If both sources drop below the minimally required levels, the lift gate batteries will no longer receive a charge.

During an eight-hour workday in which the truck is on just 30% of the time, this can equate to twice the number of lifts and still leave the lift gate battery fully charged. According to Phillips Industries, that could power 52 lifts a day compared to the existing limit of 26.

The units are also protected in a sealed metal box and all of the circuits are fused in place.