Author Archives: Alek Dundulis

 

The difference between a comfortable driving experience and one you’d rather forget often includes the addition or lack of an auxiliary power unit (APU). The APU, also known as an APU heater, or truck heater, does much more than heat the cab. Learn how an APU heater can keep you warm this winter (and cool in summer) for miles of comfort.  

How Does an Auxiliary Power Unit Work?

An APU is like a small power generator for 18-wheelers. The APU heater works by combustion fuel, including natural gas, propane, or diesel. Combustion APUs have unlimited power as long as you have fuel. Run out of fuel, and you’ll run out of power. Combustion APUs are ideal for truckers whose 18-wheelers are practically their second home. An APU will automatically charge the main battery and keep the engine and coolants at an optimal temperature.

Electric or battery-powered APUs are other options. They are generally quieter and require less maintenance than a diesel APU. Electric APUs have a limited running time. If batteries need to be recharged, it will require running the truck engine or sourcing an electrical outlet. Batteries can take 6- 12 hours to charge.

What Does the APU Power?

Home is where the comfort is, and for truckers, that usually means a sleeper cab. Many sleeper cabs include a bed with options of a single or space enough for two. There are cabs with bunk bed styles too. You may find cabs with a desk, storage options, appliances, USB and 12-volt charging ports, and outlets. Ceiling lights and ambient lighting are also available. Essentially a sleeper cab can offer all the comforts of home, and those comforts need to run on some type of energy.   

The APU will supply energy for the heater, air conditioner, TV, microwave ovens, mini fridge, video game system, appliances, and lighting. An APU heater can maintain the cabin temperature the way you like it throughout the seasons.

Is an APU Environmentally Friendly?

With no need for idling through the night to power cooling, heating, and appliances, the APU is a green alternative over battery APUs. Even the noise level of an APU generator will produce very low levels of sound, making it ideal when stopping at crowded rest stops or truck plazas. 

Another great advantage of the APU is the cost savings of fuel. According to the US Department of Energy, an idling truck can waste 0.8 gallons of fuel per hour. A truck will waste even more carrying a full load. A year’s worth of idling will quickly cut into a trucker’s bottom line.

Currently, many states have enacted legislation to minimize vehicle idling in the US. In some cases, idling can only occur for three to five minutes at a time and hefty fines for those who exceed the limit. For a look at laws and regulations for each state, The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has a handy foldable cab card for easy reference. With an APU heater, there’s no need for idling, and it’s easy to comply with regulations.

The APU can offer an affordable, environmentally friendly solution that saves money and gives truckers a more comfortable living experience. A restful living experience means truckers wake up refreshed and ready for the road ahead.

Green APU Delivers Comfort, Safety, and Savings

Green APU can offer an affordable, environmentally friendly solution that saves money and gives truckers a more comfortable living experience. No need to idle your truck to keep warm or wonder if the battery-operated APU will stop in the middle of the freezing night.

With a Green APU system, you’ll get a good night’s sleep so you can get back on the road feeling your best. A diesel APU will be an investment, but for a cleaner, safer, quieter, idle-free system that supports driver comfort, it really can’t be beat. Contact us today for questions on service and support, or financing options.

 

Providing comfort, quality and reliability have always been the foundation of everything we do at Green APU. Like the rest of our company, the engines that power our Auxiliary Power Units have evolved over time.  

Let’s take a look at the history of the Green APU, and provide some basic information about each one.

Green APU Star Edition (5^th Generation) – The Unit We Sell Today!

Our Star Edition 5^th Generation APU is the most advanced product we have ever offered and is the only APU that is sold by us today. We carry parts for our older generations of engines, but only now sell the Green APU Star Edition.

Built and assembled in the U.S.A. from our Chicago area location, the Star Edition is powered by the road-proven 3 cylinder Kubota engine, making it the most powerful APU in the industry.

Weighing just over 350 pounds, the unit features a non-rusting, all-aluminum casing and a single, self-adjusting serpentine belt that is three times stronger than a traditional V-belt set up.

We put the Green in the APU industry. Our unit burns just a little more than a ¼ gallon of fuel each hour, saving more than $8,000 in diesel fuel costs and regeneration expenses each year.

 In addition, our engine pre-heat and battery monitoring technology will make sure that your rig starts back up every time, no matter how hot or cold it is outside.

We are so confident in our STAR Edition APU that we offer a 2 Year, 3,000 hour warranty and lifetime 24/7 Technical Support! In addition, this unit only needs preventive maintenance performed every 1,000 working hours.

Older Generations of Engines – We Have Your Parts!

Our older generations of APU’s were powered by a number of top quality engine manufactures, such as Perkins, (2 & 3 cylinders), Caterpillar, Yanmar (3 cylinder) and Kubota (3 cylinder).

Need Parts?  We’ve got you covered by selling all the parts you need for these older APU’s! However, if you are looking for a new APU from us, the 5^th Generation Star Edition is what we sell today.  

 Green APU’s Preventive Maintenance (PM) Services

Let us keep your Green APU running strong with our comprehensive PM services!

Our current 5^th Generation Star Edition requires PM every 1,000 working hours. Older APU’s need it at 600 working hours.

Our complete PM services include:

• Oil Change (10W-30 or 15W-40)
• Replace Oil Filter
• Replace Fuel Filter
• Replace Air Filter
• Cabin Filter Cleaning
• Belt Inspection / Replacement
• Overall Inspection

For more information about your APU, please see our Operations Manual & Reference Guide.

Helping You Get Down the Road of Success  

Whether you are looking to purchase a new Star Edition 5^th Generation APU from us or need parts for your older model, we are your one stop solution. Contact us today to learn more about our newest APU, available parts or PM services!

 

The APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) is one of the most important pieces of equipment on a semi-truck. In this blog, we will discuss what to look for in an APU, so you can enjoy many worry-free miles as you head down the open road.

What is an Auxillary Power Unit (APU)?

Simply put, an APU is a tractor trailer’s power plant when the driver is off the road and enjoying some much deserved rest. Powered by a highly efficient small diesel engine, an Auxillary Power Unit not only supplies a driver with heat, A/C and all the electricity that they need, but some can also monitor the truck’s battery and preheat its engine for easy startups, no matter what the weather is outside.

APU’s are also very environmentally friendly, as they eliminate the need for a truck driver to idle their engine all night in order to power the truck’s living area.

What to Look for when Choosing an Auxillary Power Unit

Choosing the right APU for your truck is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Let’s take a look at some of the major factors to consider when making an investment in an Auxillary Power Unit.

Dependability

When it’s minus 5 degrees on a dark winter night or a blazing 120 degrees in the middle of summer, you need to be able to count on your APU to operate at top performance. The unit you purchase for your rig has to have a record of dependability, even under the toughest conditions. When you buy your next APU, you need to be confident that it won’t let you down.

Comfort

There is a direct relationship between how much energy an APU can produce and the level of comfort you enjoy when off the road. One of the main purposes of an APU is to provide truck drivers with all of the comforts of home, including heat, air conditioning and enough electric power to run the TV, crockpot, microwave, and other appliances in the sleeper area.

Fuel Savings

Many APU’s run on diesel fuel and burn only a fraction of the fuel that idling your truck for many hours does. Over time, you can save a significant amount of money in wasted fuel costs, as well as a considerable amount of wear and tear on your engine.

Parts Availability

Another major consideration as you decide which APU to purchase is the availability of replacement parts should they be needed. How easy will it be to get simple components like V-belts anywhere around the country? Will the APU you choose need special parts that only can be ordered from the manufacturer? Knowing this in advance will save many hours of frustration and down time of your equipment.

The Green APU Difference

With over a decade of experience and thousands of trouble free hours out on the road, the Green APU is the best Auxillary Power Unit available in the marketplace. Because APU’s are all we build, we are 100% focused on industry leading quality.

Our 5th generation Star Edition is powered by a highly reliable 3 cylinder, Kubota diesel engine, which makes it the most powerful APU in the industry. In addition, our pre-heat and battery monitoring technology will ensure that your truck starts every time, regardless of the weather.

Our unit only burns ¼ of a gallon of fuel per hour, which will save you thousands of dollars in fuel and regeneration costs each year. Our APU’s are built in the Chicago area, utilizing an all-aluminum casing and a single, self-adjusting serpentine belt that is 3X stronger than a traditional V-belt.

The Star Edition uses all off-the-shelf components, so replacement parts are available at any auto parts stores around the country or through our nationally recognized repair centers.

We are so confident about our product that we offer a 2 year, 3,000 hour warranty, which is double that of our competition.

Last but not least, the Green APU is less expensive than any other comparable unit in the marketplace.

So when the time comes for you to consider an Auxillary Power Unit for your truck, look no further than Green APU! We have you covered. Want to learn more about us? Contact us today for more information. Let us help you work smarter not harder out on the open road.

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Any truck driving company knows that the truck driver turn-over rate is always high. So naturally, fleet owners are always looking for new ways to keep drivers longer. For soure higher pay and great benefits help, but it doesn’t solve one of the key issues of driver comfort, and the peace of mind of a dependable vehicle. A way to help with this is an auxiliary power unit for semi trucks, or APU.

A truck APU offers various benefits:

• Reduced engine wear
• Fuel savings
• Reduced emissions
• Compliance with no idle laws
• Increased driver comfort during rest periods = increased driver retention
• High return on investment

What is an APU?

An APU unit offers electricity (heater, ac etc.) without having to run the vehicle. Some run on diesel, while others are powered by electricity as well and need shore power. They are sometimes available factory-installed (e.g. Navistar, Freightliner, Mack, and Volvo) or can be added after purchase..

A green APU ranges from $8,000 – $10,000, but the return investments are high, and the benefits undeniable. Not only does using a truck APU reduce engine wear and fuel consumption, but it helps reduce driver turn-over by greatly increasing comfort. This saves you from the time and money for recruitment, hiring, and training, and helps you to build a strong loyal team of drivers.

APUs, a great alternative to idling

The term “Idling” for diesel truck engines refers to when the truck is not moving, but it is still running, consuming fuel and giving off emissions. With no-idling laws becoming more commonplace, investing in a truck apu will save you a lot of trouble.

APU units give drivers an alternative to idling without having to sacrifice their comfort, while also combating negative effects of idling, like reducing engine wear, fuel consumption, and emissions. No-idling laws were put in place to cut emissions and reduce noise, and can carry fines from the $50-$500 range, however, penalties can reach $25,000 and one-year in prison! These fines not only affect drivers, but property owners can even be fined for allowing idling on their property. APU units help to avoid all of the fines and stresses involved with idling.

Last but not least, reducing idling with a green APU helps you save money on fuel. Though diesel prices are low now, they are rising and it is not expected that they will drop any time soon. Proactively getting a truck APU helps you save money now, and in the future. As well, fuel savings can help smaller fleets stay afloat in a competitive market.

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Climate change affects all of us. It is becoming necessary to provide alternative ways to generate power for medium and heavy-duty trucks rather than idling the main engine and creating toxic fumes. Most fleets are starting to use onboard generators or APUs as their energy source for sleeper cab air-conditioning and heating, halogen light for nighttime jobs and power for bucket trucks and aerial cranes.

Using APUs for powering tools and machinery has proved to be a substantial alternative to the large fuel consumption needed by idling trucks to provide power. The two primary sources of APUs are combustion-powered using diesel fuel or all-electric (battery) power. There are also alternative fuel sources, like propane autogas or natural gas, that are becoming more popular.

But what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different fuel sources? Diesel- power provides unlimited power for specific applications. All you need is a tank of diesel fuel.

Electric or battery-powered APUs

Electric or battery-powered APUs are quiet but have a limited running time. That means that when your batteries run out of power, you are out of a power-source! So their applications can be limited.

A truck drivers life on the road is made more pleasant with such amenities as a microwave oven, television and DVD player. With battery-powered APUs, you run the risk of running out of power and recharge your batteries would mean running the truck engine or finding an electrical outlet to plug into. With diesel-powered APUs, you have a longer running time, and this power source is better suited for long-haul drivers.

 To determine which power source is more suitable for your fleet depends on how the vehicles are being used. Battery-powered APUs are more suited to smaller cabs that don’t require long hours of cooling or heating. The increasing demand for zero-emissions is making smaller cabs with battery-powered APUs more popular. Drivers often have to wait long hours to load or unload their contents, and hot or cold weather can become an issue.

In terms of maintenance, diesel-powered APUs require oil and filter changes and general maintenance associated with gas engines. A battery-powered APU only requires a charged battery and is a significant saving on maintenance costs. A new battery will be necessary once in a while and has the advantage of being rechargeable through an electrical outlet.

By correctly matching the APUs capacity and its functions, it will avoid problems for your drivers.

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For any truck owner or business that utilizes a fleet of trucks, one of the primary concerns is fuel costs.  But an auxiliary power unit or truck APU can help maintain control over fuel consumption, for dramatic savings. There are actually a few factors that make an APU unit worth the investment.

Limit Truck Idling

A Green APU allows you to utilize various truck functions without the need to keep the engine running, saving approximately one gallon of diesel fuel per hour of idling time. Considering that a truck without a semi-truck APU installed is almost constantly in operation, even at rest, the fuel saved can be enormous. With APU units installed, the fuel savings can reach 90% during those idling times. That’s good for the bottom line and great for the environment.

Avoid Idling Fines

With crackdowns on idling to protect the environment becoming more mainstream, installing an APU unit in every truck would go a long way toward reducing that idle time to avoid costly infractions.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Maintenance is always necessary to keep a truck on the road. But by integrating a Green APU, some of the truck’s components will require less frequent use and therefore less frequent maintenance, for more cost savings.

Greater Cab Comfort

As a truck APU is designed to handle the air conditioning and heating systems for the cab without the need for a running engine, comfort is automatic for the driver.

A single truck is a big investment, and a fleet is an even bigger one, so limiting additional costs that can go straight to your bottom line is important. A semi-truck APU can help cut costs in different ways, making it a valuable investment for any truck.

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If you have an auxiliary power unit for your truck, then you know how much value it brings on every trip. But sometimes your truck APU needs little attention and the right parts can go a long way to keeping it going and you on the road.

So you can always stop into one of our partner locations that carry parts for auxiliary power units, but that may not be possible in every case. That’s why you can shop for your APU parts online, and here’s how you can do that.

For Those Who Don’t Already Have a Green APU for Trucks

If you’re new to auxiliary power units and don’t have one installed in your vehicle, now is the best time to see all the benefits that a truck APU can offer. By visiting our Green APU website, you can see how this specialized device can save you time and money on those long hauls.

Then, check out our online shop to find your APU for sale and all the APU parts you need to maintain your unit for the life of your vehicle.

Finding Parts Online for Your Auxiliary Power Unit

When searching for the right parts for your truck APU, simply visit our online shop, and select the appropriate truck engine type to be directed to the page that can help you narrow down your search.

Choose your part or group of parts that are needed and proceed to enter all your details for shipping and payment. We can ship to a location near you so you don’t have to make a special trip to one of our partners.

Shopping for your Green Auxiliary Power Unit parts online could not be easier or more convenient. It’s the perfect way to maintain your truck APU while you’re on the road to your next destination, so you don’t have to divert off course to pick up what you need.

Shop for your Green APU parts online today and keep driving with your auxiliary power unit.

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In logistics, every second matters and so does every dollar to give you the return on your bottom line. That’s why logistics companies are always looking for ways to enhance their operations, increase efficiency, and save money. That’s where an auxiliary power unit can make all the difference.

Whether it’s a small company with as few as one truck or a large company with a fleet of trucks, auxiliary power units from Green APU can boost the overall operation in more ways than one.

 A Truck APU That Takes Care of You and Your Truck

Green APU has devoted a great deal of time and energy to produce an auxiliary power unit that your logistics company can count on to save you money in the short and long-term. But it also does more. This truck APU is also designed to keep the driver comfortable while protecting your most valued investment, your truck, allowing your company to reach further and grow. Here’s how:

•       Fuel Savings: Our Green APU system is professionally installed so that it can control, above all else, your fuel consumption. With your truck APU in place, you no longer have to keep the engine running to utilize all of the onboard features.
•       Cabin Comfort: No matter the weather, your driver can use the auxiliary power unit to maintain precise climate control automatically. So all that’s left to do is focus on the road.
•       Never Get Stuck: With the APU truck battery monitoring, you can be certain that your engine starts every time, keeping you in business. Your truck will start on even the coldest days without having to keep it warmed up overnight, as it preheats your engine coolants when temperatures drop to the freezing mark.

A Green APU is the Best Investment You Can Make in Your Truck or Your Fleet

The Green APU simply makes driving easier, more comfortable, and more economical than ever before. Any logistics company can incorporate an auxiliary power unit from Green APU into one truck or the entire fleet of trucks to maximize the benefits and enhance efficiencies that you will see directly in your profits.

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Being on the road with a truck for a long time can be difficult, especially when the winter comes in. If you are a truck driver, you want to have the most comfortable and safe ride. Having a truck APU will definitely help you achieve the smoothest ride of your life. There are many benefits to owning an APU unit for your trucks. Not only will it be a comfy ride, but it will also allow you to save money on gas and so many more benefits.

Why choose a auxiliary power unit?

An auxiliary power unit is perfect for those who have many truck units used for their business. It is best to use these auxiliary power units during the winter season because it provides climate control. The truck APU unit will alternate between AC and heat accordingly based on your desired temperature. It also has battery monitoring designed to make sure the truck starts, no matter how long it has been sitting in the yard.

Suppose you are in an area where winter gets harsh, well, no need to worry if you have an auxiliary power unit on your truck. It will make sure that your truck starts even in the coldest climate. You can preheat the engine coolant even if the temperature drops below 33. With all these benefits, APUs are not only good for drivers but also great for the owners of the trucks. It will give them a lot of savings without having to sacrifice the comfort of their truck drivers.

With our APU units, you can make sure that you will get the highest quality at a price that’s affordable and will not burn a hole in your wallet. Aside from the quality of units, we also provide top-notch customer service. Rest assured that all your questions and concerns will be answered as quickly and accurately as possible. You can count on us when it comes to your auxiliary power unit needs. What are you waiting for? If you’re a truck driver or a company that owns trucks, don’t hesitate to give us a call today! We’ll be here for you.

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