Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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PRODUCT REVIEWS, OEM & SUPPLIER NEWS AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT TRENDS BY JACK ROBERTS The Thermo King Precedent trailer temperature control platform is designed to be fully compliant with the U.S. Envi- ronmental Protection Agency's new Tier IV final regulations. in the history of Ingersoll-Rand." Tom Kampf, trailer product manager for Ther- mo King, describes the Precedent platform as an entirely new design with stated and accomplished goals of setting new standards in both fuel efficien- cy and clean exhaust emissions. Key to this approach was developing a new Thermo King-exclusive Diesel Direct Electric powertrain architecture that Kampf says delivers optimal efficiencies in temperature control, along with double-digit fuel savings in real-world opera- tions. According to Kampf, customers typically will see refrigerated unit fuel savings of 11 percent, with savings of up to 19 percent in certain applica- tions. That's big news in an industry that thrives on pennies saved. Both S-Series models feature a new fuel injection system that Kampf says delivers optimized combus- tion to tightly control particulate matter in the engine cylinders, eliminating the need for diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems. A new belt-driven permanent magnet generator allows the engine to be matched optimally to the system com- pressor and generator to deliver maximum cooling efficiency. At the same time, dual electronically controlled condenser fans allow the Precedent units to manage engine load over a wide range of operating conditions. The Precedent units are six inches wider than current Ther- mo King models to accommodate a full-width evaporator that provides maximum coil surface area, while a centralized air discharge system ensures optimal delivery of cooled air to the trailer. A new SR4 control system has been designed with an easier human-to-machine interface to make programming and operat- ing the units simpler and more efficient. And as I said, efficiency is the name of the game today. Isn't it? JACK ROBERTS is Executive Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail jroberts@ccjmagazine.com or call (205) 248-1358. The new Cummins ISX12G 12-liter natural gas engine initially will be offered in the Kenworth T660 in early 2013. Kenworth spotlights natural gas efforts A t a press briefing at its corporate head- quarters in Renton, Wash., Kenworth officials detailed their efforts to prepare for a major heavy-duty natural gas push beginning next year. The company's natural gas offerings, which already span three engine choices in six different vehicle platforms, will receive an additional boost when Kenworth is one of the first truck manufacturers to receive the new Cum- mins ISX12G 12-liter natural gas engine in early 2013. The new engine initially will be offered in the Kenworth T660. Andy Douglas, national sales man- ager, specialty trucks, said the new engine has been in verification testing for more than a year and already has logged more than 2 million test miles. Bridgestone cites value of Ecopia-FuelTech combo B ridgestone officials said during a press briefing last month that the company's new Ecopia tires and complemen- tary Bandag FuelTech retreads provide added value over the tires' lifecycles due to their fuel- efficient designs and the Eco- pia's premium long-life casing. Fleets should consider these tires assets to be managed, thereby gaining maximum value, said Scott Damon, vice president of marketing. "We don't just keep in mind the original wear performance of the new tire, " Damon said. "We want to make sure that tire will be retreaded two to three times with the same rolling- resistance benefit." For users of wide base singles, the Bridgestone Greatec M835 Ecopia drive is complemented by the Bandag B835 FuelTech retread. COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2012 35