Bergstrom, Firefly Energy to co-market no-idle system, new battery design

The Trucker News Services

1/30/2008

PEORIA, Ill. — Bergstrom Inc., makers of the NITE no-idle thermal system for truck sleeper cabs, and Firefly Energy Inc., developer of the next generation Microcell foam batteries for commercial and military markets, have agreed to test and co-market the NITE system alongside Firefly Energy’s Oasis BCI Group 31 truck battery. The agreement is designed to give drivers and fleets a cost-effective means to achieve all-night sleeper cab cooling with the engine shut off, the companies said.

The NITE system is designed to combine a light weight, fully functional air conditioning (A/C) system and a compact air heating system, with both to work independently of a truck’s main engine.

An available eight-pound air heating system keeps the sleeper compartment continuously warm all night, using just 0.03 to 0.06 gallons of diesel fuel per hour, compared to one to 1.5 gallons per hour wasted during normal idling time, the company said. The NITE system is available for purchase with the A/C system only or with a combination of the air conditioner and heater.

According to Terry Ziegler, Bergstrom’s vice president and general manager for Electrified Products who is involved with the tests, the Oasis battery to be introduced by Firefly Energy in 2008 is hoped to prove suitable to fully power NITE’s A/C system.

“Our efficient 72-pound cooling system fits any truck and operates independently of the truck’s electrical system. The purpose of using the Oasis battery is to allow drivers to simply switch on power for their sleeper cab’s A/C and shut off their engines overnight,” Ziegler said.

The battery will be displayed at Bergstrom’s booth # 2921 and the Firefly Energy booth #2928 at the ATA’s TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, Feb. 4-7 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.

“By agreeing to co-market the NITE system alongside the Oasis battery, Bergstrom and Firefly Energy aim to provide the trucking industry with a powerful one-two solution to achieving long-lasting sleeper cab comfort, fuel savings, and pollution reduction,” Firefly Energy Senior Vice President and Co-Founder Mil Ovan said.

Ovan said the Oasis battery will provide up to 50 percent longer run-times than competitors when powering accessories which collectively make up a truck’s “hotel loads.”

Bergstrom Inc. designs and supplies climate systems to the commercial vehicle industry.

Firefly Energy Inc. is a Peoria, Ill.-based battery technology company developing a portfolio of products soon to enhance battery performance within major portions of the battery marketplace.