FUEL EFFICIENTCY: Bergstrom Offers Fuel Efficient Anti Idle Options For Law Enforcement
While relatively new to the Law Enforcement aftermarket community, Bergstrom Inc. is the leading designer and manufacturer of cab climate systems for heavy-duty commercial trucks, buses, off-highway machines and specialty vehicles. By combining progressive engineering talent, lean manufacturing principles and a global footprint, Bergstrom offers a unique blend of commercial vehicle marketplace focus and customer value.
With high quality and affordable systems, Bergstrom has proved to be a reliable source of the latest systems for its customers. This now includes innovative new systems that Police Fleet Managers can leverage for their police fleets.
eCoolPark
In the market today there are many technologies that offer benefits for police fleets ranging from better communications, better equipped vehicles and better armor. However very few can affect a fleet’s bottom line. If a product has the ability to keep officers comfortable all while lowering carbon footprint as well as extending the life of a vehicle why haven’t you heard about it?
For those in the Public Sector, idling is a common occurrence. Police officers sit in idling cars. Utility workers sit in idling vehicles, and many work trucks are left idling. Every Fleet Manager knows that idling wastes fuel, adds hours of wear and tear to the vehicle and shortens the life span of the vehicle.
What if there was a solution capable of reducing idle time and CO2 emissions by 30-70 percent without adding expensive infrastructure for future technologies? A technology that provides fuel savings and reduces engine wear while maintaining operator comfort? What if that technology could extend the usable life of your vehicle up to a year? How much capital would be saved if you could extend the life of your vehicle, use less fuel and lower maintenance costs?
The new eCoolPark TM product from Bergstrom provides that solution.
Bergstrom Inc., a long-time innovator of HVAC systems, created the eCoolPark system – the only compact high-efficiency, electric no-idle A/C system. For police forces, or other security/surveillance duty vehicles, this allows officers to work in the comfort of their vehicle without idling. It’s an innovative alternative to maintain vehicle A/C while eliminating exhaust emissions, reducing engine wear and saving fuel.
Recently with the help of a large agency fleet, Bergstrom found that a new vehicle used for surveillance had over 13,530 hours on the engine in the first year, all while only accumulating 15,000 miles. Calculations indicate that 13,530 is equivalent to 433,000 miles driven. From the typical life of a fleet vehicle with this info, a vehicle could have over 65,000 hours of idle time or the equivalent of 2 million extra miles on the vehicle by end of service. The eCoolPark has proven to successfully eliminate up to 70 percent of this idle time. This means longer service life and less fuel costs, all while keeping officers cool.
That sustainable solution is something that is not only wanted but becoming increasingly necessary to meet emission initiatives created by federal, state and county governments. As more local governments outline very specific emission standards, reducing idling is an effective way to meet those standards.
“Various jurisdictions have their own initiatives,” said Mike Aldred, business development manager, eCoolPark, Bergstrom Inc. “Our collective system goes towards meeting those requirements, saving fuel, reducing emissions and increasing operator comfort, and lowering capital expenditures.”
eCoolPark can be integrated into existing vehicle HVAC systems and its compact size allows it to be installed in multiple locations, including with the vehicle’s condenser, in the engine bay or through a remote-mounted compressor and condenser assembly. The eCoolPark is available for 12v, 24v or 48v systems. It complies with all federal, state and local idle and noise restrictions and supports environmental sustainability efforts through reduction of vehicle emissions.
“The size of this system sets it apart from anything else that’s currently available in the industry,” said Sean Connell, managing director of no-idle products in North America, Bergstrom Inc. “Also, being able to use some of the vehicle’s existing components, such as the duct work, make it very easy to install. In addition, our customers will see a reduction of fuel consumption and engine maintenance costs.”
Along with eCoolPark Bergstrom has harnessed the full potential of the sun with their innovative Solar Energy Systems. Their flexible solar panels conform to any surface and are virtually unbreakable. You’ll get more power. Increased durability. More comfortable drivers. And more run time! All adding up to measurable ROI starting from the moment you install. Together with Merlin Solar’s patented technology, Bergstrom has taken existing solar solutions and made them better. Take driver comfort to the next level by using solar energy to significantly extend the run time of electric HVAC systems such as Bergstrom’s NITE no-idle solution. Use excess solar energy to augment charging of the truck batteries, extending the use of higher loads without idling the engine. Bergstrom has custom pre-fit kits specifically engineered for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, Chevrolet Tahoe PPV and many other Law Enforcement vehicles.
One example of just how effective this technology is was identified when Bergstrom Inc. and GRIP Idle Management Inc. partnered to provide innovative solutions specifically for police fleets. As was mentioned before, government idling is a common occurrence. Police officers sit in idling cars because often times there is simply no other option available given the situation the officer finds themselves in. This partnership of the eCoolPark system in conjunction with GRIP Idle Management is a solution capable of reducing CO2 emissions by 30-70 percent without adding expensive infrastructure for future technologies not yet commercially available. What Police Fleet Manager doesn’t want a technology that provides fuel savings and reduces engine wear while maintaining operator comfort? The new partnership between Bergstrom and GRIP Idle Management Inc. provides that cost-effective solution. The collaboration between the two innovative organizations has resulted in a comprehensive solution that gives Police Fleet Managers another option to solve this very serious problem.
The GRIP Idle Management System autonomously and intelligently manages the vehicle’s engine by turning it off when the vehicle is idling unnecessarily and monitors the need for battery recharging and climate among many other customizable features. The system maintains all safety features of the vehicle such as air bags, lighting, communications and additional engine off climate solution.
The eCoolPark TM system is the only compact high-efficiency, electric no-idle A/C system. For police forces, or other security/surveillance duty vehicles, this allows officers to work in the comfort of their vehicle without idling. It’s an innovative alternative to maintain vehicle A/C while eliminating exhaust emissions, reducing engine wear and saving fuel.
“This partnership between GRIP and Bergstrom allows us to keep the engine off significantly longer,” said Brian Bassindale, president, GRIP Idle Management Inc. “Adding the eCoolPark to GRIP or vice versa ultimately allows companies to significantly reduce idle time and as a result reduce operational costs, emissions and everything that goes along with idling. With organizations so focused on the future and the focus on EV and hybrid alternatives, this joint, out-of-box solution meets the immediate needs of today’s Police fleets.”
The partnership between the two companies began this past year. While each company’s no-idle solutions work independently of the other, the amount of idle reduction significantly increases when they work in tandem. Idle reduction is further enhanced by incorporating Bergstrom’s proprietary solar energy systems designed for the transportation industry.
“We look at the partnership between GRIP and eCoolPark as enhancing the effectiveness of each other’s individual system capabilities to provide a stronger solution for reduced idling and emissions. With the rise of greenhouse gases and the results of climate change becoming more apparent every day, this versatile solution comes at a crucial time for organizations struggling to meet aggressive sustainability targets,” said Duncan Curd, vice president, marketing and sales, GRIP Idle Management Inc. “The products’ ability to work seamlessly on all fuel types, as well as a wide range of light and heavy-duty applications provides a real solution for governments and Law Enforcement, allowing them to implement effective anti-idling solutions and achieve significant reductions immediately.”
That sustainable solution is something that is not only wanted but becoming increasingly necessary to meet emission initiatives created by federal, state and county governments. As more local governments outline very specific emission standards, reducing idling is an effective way to meet those standards.
When GRIP began to consider a partner creating technology for climate control and idle reduction, Bergstrom was the clear choice.
“The partnership with Bergstrom reflects both companies’ strong engineering capacity to address the challenges of sustainability, costs, and operations,” said Curd. “Bergstrom has a long history of engineering excellence and innovation.”
Bergstrom also considered GRIP a clear choice in partnership. “What do you call two companies that join together that are just awesome! I don’t think I’ve come up with a word for it yet, but superhero definitely comes to mind,” said Aldred. “Both companies have a history of innovation in these sectors. The partnership is new, but our products and expertise are tried and tested, and they really work.”
Bergstrom and GRIP Idle will be at Police Fleet Expo 2020 in Richmond VA August 17-20th 2020.
For more information about the eCoolPark system, please visit BergstromInc.com. For more information on the GRIP Idle Management System, please visit gripidlemanagement.com.
