ORLANDO, Fla. — General Electric introduced new solar technology for its telematics system during the Truckload Carriers Association annual convention in the sunshine state this week.

The VeriWise Asset Intelligence telematics system can now be equipped with a solar module that maintains the charge and substantially extends the life of the batteries that power the monitoring devices in untethered or dropped trailers, says the manufacturer.

The solar panel is manufactured by GE Energy and requires two hours of direct sunlight each day to maintain the charge of the sealed lead acid (SLA) battery that powers new models of the VeriWise system. The optional solar energy module minimizes the need to re-tether the trailer to recharge the battery.

“As we worked with our customers to better understand their asset intelligence needs, it became apparent that, under certain operating conditions, having to recharge the battery of an untethered trailer after only 120 days presents an operational challenge,” said Thomas Konditi, general manager, Asset Intelligence, GE Equipment Services. “Customers operating older tractors without a hot auxiliary pin on their seven-way connectors, or those sending a large number of event messages while the trailer is untethered, will find the solar energy module an ideal power option.”

According to Konditi, one of several processors onboard the new VeriWise model is programmed to determine how and when to switch from the seven-way power to solar. The module is available initially as an option for internally installed devices, and will be standard on the externally mounted unit to be available later in 2006.