reasons truck batteries need backup support By David A. Kolman, Editor You don’t know cold weather until your route takes you through Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the dead of winter, says Phil Clark, a contractor with a trucking company based in Missoula, Mont., who regularly drives through some of the coldest places in the Northern Hemisphere. “Whether I’m at home or out on the road, there’s no worse feeling than waking up in the morning and realizing that my truck won’t start. “The right combination of cold night air, the energy drain from electronics in the cab and your unlucky circumstances cause your batteries to quit,” he says. “In this situation, you need to call for a jump start and deal with the aggravation, delay and costs associated with it.” If this doesn’t sound appealing, Clark says there is another strategy that can keep a truck running and help achieve peace of mind on the road: complementing the primary power source with ultracapacitor technology. “There are three reasons to admit your batteries are ready to call for backup.” 1. Relying on batteries can feel like playing Russian roulette with your truck. Even with the best driver and a sound battery maintenance program, the average lifespan of a truck battery is two years, notes Clark, who has more than 25 years of experience in the trucking business. “Beyond that point, you’re taking a gamble every time you start your engine, since the cranking application is a high-power event. “Because batteries are better at providing long-term energy than burst power, a less risky option would be to rely on an engine start module powered by ultracapacitors just for cranking the truck engine and letting the batteries focus on what they’re good at. “Aside from being well-suited for high power, ultracapacitors have long service life and perform well in a wide range of temperatures and environments, easing the constraints of the battery replacement cycle.” 2. Ultracapacitors are cost effective. Depending on where it happens, a jump start can cost $200 to $500, he says, and “if you need a jump on a regular basis, that price adds up quickly, and that doesn’t include the cost of lost time on the road. “Ultracapacitors also can help reduce fuel costs, especially those from idling your engine all night in order to avoid cold-cranking in the morning. Ultimately, ultracapacitors pay for themselves by preventing delays, eliminating the need for jump-start services and reducing total cost of operation.” 3. Peace of mind. Clark uses Maxwell Technologies’ ultracapacitor-based engine starting product, Engine Start Module (ESM), to help him maintain his route and not worry about dealing with a truck that won’t start. The ESM “allows me to relax, meaning I can stop worrying about whether or not I’ll be able to start tomorrow morning. Having confi dence in your truck improves your quality of life as a driver.” The KAPower starting system uses asymmetric ultracapacitors and its internal cells are combined in series or parallel to achieve the desired voltage and power, with no internal electronics needed. Photo courtesy of Kold Ban International DOES AWAY with the worry of a truck not starting. In both cases, a completely discharged main battery will not aff ect the ability to start the vehicle. However, because of the diff erence between the symmetrical and the asymmetrical ultracapacitors, the Maxwell setup will drain down in three weeks, whereas the KBi setup may go as long as a year. Th e KBi ultracapacitor has no toxic materials or unstable Li-ion batteries inside, so it creates far less of a problem in shipping and handling. 24V CONFIGURATIONS It should be noted that in both the KBi and Maxwell setups, the ultracapacitors are available in a 24V confi guration. Burke of KBi says that currently 24V accounts for the lion’s share of his company’s business for use in other applications, but he sees trucking as a huge market for 24V. According to Brakley of Maxwell, since the starter is isolated in an ultracapacitor system, it’s possible to make that part of the electrical architecture 24V while keeping everything powered by the battery side at 12V. Th is same thought was shared by KBi’s Burke. Brakley says the idea is gaining traction at the truck OEMs who are looking at 24V start systems as the current draw is half for the same power. Th ere are enormous savings in copper to be made in the downsizing of the cabling to the battery box if | Heavy Duty 3 The Smart Money is on our extra deep 30/32" tread depth With its 30/32" tread depth, you can count on our RLB400 drive position tire for long original mileage. Our advanced tread designs deliver superior handling and maximum traction in all kinds of road conditions. You can also be certain that our integrity goes even deeper. All Double Coin tires are engineered with heavy-duty casings for improved strength, stability and multiple retreads. That’s why you’ll get more out of every mile with Double Coin. www.DoubleCoinTires.com ©2016 CMA, LLC. VehicleServicePros.com/10162428 20 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ JULY 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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