Webasto Products North America has expanded its BlueCool Thermal Storage APU product family to include BlueCool Hybrid, giving truck operators the flexibility to use shore power to run the company’s bunk cooler while providing hotel load, the company announced today, March 24, in Louisville.
The shore power option extends Webasto’s focus to help truck owners significantly reduce or eliminate engine idling. “Because it uses electricity from a land-based source, BlueCool Hybrid can produce cool air indefinitely, unlike most battery-powered systems that need to be recharged by the engine after a single rest period,” says John Thomas, general manager of Webasto’s Commercial Vehicle division. “Plus, it can deliver AC power for standard household appliances, including laptops and other sensitive electronics, without having to use an inverter or the vehicle’s electrical system.”
BlueCool Hybrid uses a standard 120-volt AC power source. Its components include an electrical cord (12 gauge, rated for 20 amps); a junction box with relays, fuses and circuit breakers; a 30-amp battery charger; and a 120-volt AC GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) receptacle for the vehicle’s interior.
When the system detects an outside power source, it switches to “shore power” mode. Electricity from the grid powers the outlets in the bunk, a battery charger to ensure that the battery has sufficient voltage to start the vehicle and the compressor for Webasto’s BlueCool Thermal Storage unit.
