Idle Free Systems
A Complete Electric APU System to Eliminate Idling.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
N/A | Acquisition | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Idle Free Systems, now a brand within Phillips & Temro Industries, operates in the commercial trucking and transportation sector, providing solutions to reduce engine idling. The company was established in 2003, with an initial focus on producing electric auxiliary power units (eAPUs) for trucks with refrigerated trailers. A significant milestone occurred in July 2014 when Phillips & Temro Industries, a global supplier of engineered thermal solutions, acquired the Madison, Wisconsin-based company. At the time of the acquisition, Robert Hopton was the CEO of Idle Free Systems.
The firm's business centers on manufacturing and selling battery-powered, idle-elimination systems that help trucking fleets and owner-operators reduce operating expenses, comply with anti-idling legislation, and lower their environmental impact. The business model involves the direct sale of these systems, which are designed for over-the-road sleeper cabs, day cabs, work trucks, and even school buses. Clients include individual owner-operators and large commercial trucking fleets. By reducing engine idle time, which can average between 1,800 and 2,500 hours per year per truck, the systems offer significant fuel and maintenance cost savings, with a potential payback period as short as one year.
The core product is the Idle Free electric APU, a system that provides year-round heating and air conditioning, powers onboard electronics like televisions and computers, and offers engine pre-heating without running the truck's main engine. The system operates by capturing and storing energy from the truck's alternator in an independent bank of AGM batteries. This stored energy is then converted to 120-volt AC electricity to power various amenities. A distinctive feature is its multiple power options; it can run off its dedicated battery bank, be plugged into shore power for unlimited runtime, or utilize the proprietary and patented Reefer Link™ technology, which allows the APU to be powered by the truck's refrigerated trailer unit. This flexibility differentiates it from diesel-powered APUs, which are essentially smaller idling engines, and other electric systems. The system is also compliant with CARB regulations and is EPA SmartWay verified. Keywords: idle elimination, electric auxiliary power unit, eAPU, trucking fleets, commercial vehicles, Phillips & Temro Industries, Robert Hopton, anti-idling laws, fuel savings, fleet operating costs, Reefer Link, battery powered APU, CARB compliant, EPA SmartWay, idle reduction, truck maintenance, sleeper cab solutions, shore power, transportation technology, engine pre-heat