MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — PKS Thermodiesel is now carrying Webasto’s new BlueCool Truck, a system that keeps cabs cool overnight without idling.

The system takes the place of an auxiliary power unit (APU), allowing truckers to keep their cabs cool without idling.

"BlueCool Truck presents a huge step forward in presenting solutions that assist fleet and owner/operators to meet the regulations yet still provide interior comfort irrespective of the vehicle’s location in hot or cold climates," said Rolf Lichtner, the director of marketing services at Webasto Product North America. "Paired with the successful and well-established range of Webasto truck cab auxiliary heaters in our C5 (Complete Cabin Climate Comfort Control) concept, BlueCool Truck completely eliminates the need for engine idling to condition the vehicle’s interior environment."

BlueCool Truck is unlike APUs as it uses no diesel fuel during its cooling operation. Instead, it uses a cold storage cell which is charged when the truck is being driven. The cold air that’s stored during the truck’s operation is then circulated while the truck is turned off, the company explains.

The system runs independent of the vehicle’s air conditioner, using only small amounts of power to circulate super-chilled coolant between the cold storage unit and a heat exchanger in the sleeper cab. The air is circulated by four small, quiet fans.

Tests have shown the system can cool a truck sleeper to below 70 degrees F when the outside temperature is more than 90 degrees F. For more information, contact PKS Thermodeiesel’s Andy or Ruta Sieluzycki at 905-949-2800.