WARRENVILLE, Ill. — International Truck and Engine Corporation has announced its plans for an integrated factory-installed reduced idle system to be available this spring. International made the announcement at the TCA Fuel Economy Summit

International said its No Idle System provides a cost-effective means to reduce idling times and save up to 0.8 gallons of fuel every hour.

The company estimates, by reducing idling time by five hours a day, an operator could save 1,450 to 1,650 gallons of fuel annually, depending on whether the battery system or Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is used. At three dollars per gallon, fuel savings could reach almost $5,000 per year.

The International No Idle Power Pack battery and International No Idle APU both feature a heating-and-air-conditioning system.

An externally chassis mounted, fuel-fired coolant heater supplies 17,000 BTUs an hour in heat, while the electric air conditioning system provides 4,000 BTUs an hour of air conditioning.

The No Idle System is available with an automatic transfer switch to transfer to 110-volt ac shore power when available. Its shore power option allows a truck to operate the heater and air conditioner using an external, auxiliary power source. Shore power will also provide power to keep the batteries charged, operate running lights and some hotel loads (refrigerators, microwave, etc.).

The system is also designed to reduce engine maintenance costs by eliminating wear caused by unnecessary idling and to allow an operator to comply with the increasing number of anti-idling laws in effect or pending.

Limited production for the system and its components will begin in the spring of 2006.