5 Questions Fleets Ask Before Going Idle Free

Auxiliary power units have always required fleets to accept a trade. Either burn a little fuel to avoid burning a lot, or burn diesel – and money – all night with a diesel APU. We designed the IdleX eAPU system to eliminate that problem.

Fleet operators, understandably, have questions. Until now, no one had delivered an APU that provides consistent, reliable run times and eliminates idling.

First, the money question: Financed, an IdleX system provides an immediate return. The monthly cost is typically less than what the system saves in fuel and eliminated maintenance.

These are the five questions that come next:

1. Is the IdleX eAPU really going to eliminate idling, or is there a catch?

We get it. You’ve been down this path with other APUs, diesel and battery both, and the result was lackluster.

Diesel APUs require maintenance, burn fuel all night, and add hours to the truck. Battery APUs struggle to hold consistent power for a full mandated rest period, so the engine auto-starts. More idling, more fuel burned.

The catch you’re bracing for is the asterisk. There isn’t one. Eliminating the need to idle while keeping everything in the cab running is a solvable engineering problem when you combine best-in-class electrical engineering with technology the trucking industry hasn’t used before.

At the core of the system is our power unit, built on industrial-grade 48V lithium batteries (more on those below) that deliver a minimum of 10 hours of idle-free runtime.

The core components, high-capacity lithium packs and intelligent 48V power management, have run for years in some of the most demanding off-grid conditions. IdleX is the first time they have been assembled into one system engineered for Class-8 trucks. Our fleet simulator lets you see how the system performs in your trucks, on your routes, in your climates.

2. How can you eliminate idling when other battery APUs cannot?

It comes down to battery science.

The lead-acid batteries in nearly every Class-8 truck are designed to start an engine, not run appliances and electronics. They deliver a large burst of current, then recharge slowly while the truck runs.

Our 48V lithium batteries are built for the opposite job. They deliver a consistent, sustained stream of power to run an air conditioner, a laptop, a microwave, or anything else a driver keeps in the bunk.

The battery technology in the IdleX system is engineered the same way as the packs in today’s top-performing electric vehicles. You get sustained, idle-free power overnight. When the engine fires up, the system recharges to 100% in six hours off any standard alternator. No shore power or alternator upgrade is needed.

Because that power is consistent and reliable, the system also replaces your starter batteries. The dual-voltage system delivers 2,000 CCA with push-button recovery. Fewer batteries to buy with minimal failure points.

3. Will the IdleX system work in the cold?

Short answer: Yes.

The system is rated to work in temps as low as -40°F. You’ll maintain consistent idle-free runtimes when the engine’s off and can rest easy knowing the truck’s going to start when it’s time to hit the road.

4. How reliable is it, and what happens if something goes wrong?

Along with idle elimination, reliability is what the IdleX next-generation eAPU system is engineered for.

There’s no separate diesel engine. And you don’t have to deal with belts, oil, or filters. That removes the most common reasons an APU ends up in the shop. The power unit requires zero scheduled maintenance once it’s installed.

Lead-acid starter batteries typically get replaced every 18 to 24 months. The IdleX system is rated for 10,000+ cycles, built to outlast the truck it’s installed in.

When something does need attention, you’re not chasing it down. The system reports faults through the fleet portal, often before the driver notices, and the core system is backed by a 5-year parts and labor warranty.

5. Is the IdleX eAPU system easy to install and easy to use?

From installation to daily operation, the system was designed with technicians and drivers in mind.

Install: your own technicians can do it, in your own shop. You don’t need to send trucks to a vendor or a specialty shop. It drops into the truck’s existing battery box, replacing the hotel and starter batteries, and it’s a one-day job. Many fleets can schedule the install during regular preventive maintenance, so it costs no additional downtime.

Use: an in-cab touchscreen shows power draw, battery level, and remaining runtime. Drivers can also set cab temperature from their phone before they climb in. They set the temp, check the charge, and go to sleep. No clunky menus or steep learning curve.

Still have questions?

Run your fleet’s numbers in the simulator, or talk to the engineers who built the system.