Oct 1, 2007 12:00 PM

Alliance Parts' highlight at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) was its new 2007 Alliance Premium Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that provides 12,000 BTUs of air conditioning, 10,000 BTUs of heating, and 3,300 watts of 110 volt electricity to ensure driver comfort.

Alliance Parts, a private label brand of Freightliner LLC, pointed out that combined with the rising cost of fuel and new emissions standards, idling a truck engine is no longer a viable option. The Alliance Premium APU reduces pollution and complies with anti-idling laws while its single-cylinder engine burns one-tenth of a gallon of fuel an hour.

The Alliance Premium APU also offers design advantages by using a free-standing system that operates independently of the factory OEM HVAC system. The APU integrates with the truck only through a supply and return line to the fuel tank. As a result, the Alliance APU does not violate any OEM warranties and will not cause wear and tear of the truck's engine. With no inverter needed, the Alliance APU also greatly reduces wear and tear on truck batteries.

Standard features on the Alliance Premium APU include custom duct work with six directional louvers to ensure that cold air is well distributed throughout the sleeper. The unit has six 110 volt outlets to provide plenty of power for a microwave, television, and other appliances. A 60-amp battery charger charges the truck's batteries when the APU is running. A simple control panel mounted near the bunk makes operating the APU easy.

Along with power and convenience, several engineering enhancements resulted in significant noise reduction. A new air intake and filter design, custom engineered muffler, as well as additional insulation material make the Alliance APU one of the quietest on the market, the company said. The APU generates 73-77 decibels.

The system is engineered and designed for all makes and models of commercial vehicles. Custom engineered versions of the Alliance APU are offered for the Freightliner Coronado, Columbia, and Century Class.