Webasto showcases idle reduction technology in D.C.

Webasto’s technologies are California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved and its BlueCool Truck cooling technology received the 2008 Frost and Sullivan award for the Idle Reduction Technology of the Year based on its positive impacts to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The BlueCool Truck cab was on display Wednesday on the west front of the Capitol.

The Trucker News Services

4/30/2009

FENTON, Mich. — Webasto Product North America is aiming to make a big impact in the fight to save the planet through innovation, engineering and technology, and the company is making its presence known on Capitol Hill this week with congressional office visits and a technology demonstration near the Capitol building.

Webasto develops idle-reducing heating and cooling solutions for the transportation industry and has been blazing the path to a cleaner future.

“Webasto has been producing innovative idle reduction technologies for more than 70 years and our company is proud to have been green before it was cool to be green,” said John Thomas, general manager of commercial vehicle business development and head of environmental and regulatory affairs. “Our technologies are not only an environmental success, but they find that delicate balance between environmental policy, industry affordability and rapid return on investment. Because of this our technology can truly be referred to as green, green solutions.”

Over the coming years, government and industry will spend billions, even trillions, to forge a path to cleaner and more efficient technology, Webasto notes. Among these technologies are electric, hybrid, fuel cell, hydraulic, hydrogen, alternative fuels, and they all bring promise and opportunity for the future.

Webasto said the company believes that in order to gain critical mass with these technologies, critical roadblocks need to be removed and awareness needs to increase. Some of these efforts include implementing a uniform national idling standard, tax credits and low interest loans. All of these components would be major contributors toward reaching America’s twin goals of energy independence and the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Webasto’s engine-off technology has the ability to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions now. When compared to other green technologies, Webasto’s technologies make the largest reduction of carbon footprint per dollar spent while maintaining a payback period (return on investment) of between four and 12 months, the company said.

Webasto representatives are on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress and their staff to discuss how well this technology fits into energy legislation now being crafted in the House and the Senate.

Webasto Product North America Inc., based in Fenton, Mich., provides a wide range of engine-off heating and cooling technologies and other products to the heavy-duty truck OEM and aftermarkets, as well as passenger vehicle, RV, defense, cargo and marine industries. Webasto has three Michigan facilities in Fenton, Rochester Hills and Livonia; two Kentucky facilities in Lexington and Murray; and a facility in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. It is a subsidiary of Webasto AG.

Webasto AG, headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich, has been a family-run business ever since the company was founded in 1901. It has about 6,400 employees at 50 international locations.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.