COMFORTGUARD provides a way to save fuel and reduce emissions while heating or cooling the truck cab. It will be available in early 2005. The system was introduced by Cummins Inc during the 2004 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Cummins ComfortGuard is fully integrated with the vehicle's heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) system, so that the vehicle engine does not have to be running to provide heating and cooling for the cab. ComfortGuard has two-cylinder diesel engine and an Onan generator set that's been a mainstay of the RV and marine markets for years.
“ComfortGuard is part of Cummins commitment to customers to achieve the lowest operating costs while providing measurable environmental benefits,” said Cummins Executive Director of Marketing Tom Kieffer. “In addition to reducing idle time, the system will provide the end user with up to an eight and one-half percent fuel economy improvement, based on 2,000 hours of operation in a 12-month period. ComfortGuard is able to do this while providing outstanding cab heating or cooling because it is fully integrated with the vehicle manufacturer's HVAC system.”
The system also provides enhanced functionality from a power standpoint, so that end users will be able to operate computers, microwaves and other electronic devices with its 12-volt DC and 120-volt AC auxiliary power.