AFL Automotive and Maxwell Technologies to Exhibit Efficient Cold Start Engine System at Mid-America Trucking Show
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The System Lowers Cost of Ownership for Commercial Vehicle Owners Through Fuel Savings, Lower Weight and Improved Packaging
DETROIT & SAN DIEGO -- AFL Automotive, an Alcoa business, and Maxwell Technologies announced today that they are exhibiting a cold start system for the commercial truck market at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky on March 22nd and 23rd. The cold start system utilizes Maxwell's BOOSTCAP(R) ultracapacitors with AFL's power management system to develop an efficient engine starting system.
"The cold start system can lower cost of ownership for fleet owners through fuel savings, lower weight and improved packaging," said Allen Zwierzchowski, Senior Vice President Global Technology AFL Automotive. "The cold start system can be used as part of a no-idle system to start a diesel engine in cold climates and to ensure reliable starting after the truck batteries are drained overnight by hotel loads. The cold start system, which recharges quickly from the main power system, can also be used with delivery vehicles that have repetitive starts."
Advantages of AFL-Maxwell Cold Start System
To meet the no-idle laws, many commercial vehicles use auxiliary power units or a series of lead acid batteries to provide heating, cooling and driver comfort. After powering these overnight "hotel loads" many of the battery systems have insufficient power to start the vehicle in the morning, especially at cold ambient temperatures. The AFL-Maxwell cold start system can ensure engine starts for commercial vehicles, thus eliminating the lost down time of jump starts. A single jump start may result in $500 to $600 of lost down of road service and down time expense for a truck owner.
The cold start system can also reduce or eliminate secondary energy storage systems that are used to start diesel engines from 6 liters to 16 liters in displacement. This weight savings can be used to lower fuel consumption or increase payload, resulting in greater operational efficiency to truck owners.
Also, many delivery or transit vehicles have repetitive starts that can drain the primary battery systems and result in stranded drivers and payload. The AFL-Maxwell cold start system is especially designed for fleet owners who have time sensitive cargo that cannot afford lost downtime with a drained battery.
"AFL and Maxwell have built upon the collaboration initiated in 2006 to develop cold start solutions for the commercial truck market," Zwierzchowski explained. To learn more about the cold start system, visit the Alcoa booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
About AFL Automotive
AFL Automotive, an Alcoa business, is a world leader in the design, development and production of high quality electrical and electronic distribution systems for personal and commercial vehicles, working with vehicle manufacturers and their sub-suppliers in the major automotive centers in Asia, Europe and the Americas. To learn more about AFL Automotive visit www.aflauto.com
About Maxwell Technologies
Maxwell is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, cost-effective energy storage and power delivery solutions. Our BOOSTCAP(R) ultracapacitor cells and multi-cell modules provide safe and reliable power solutions for applications in consumer and industrial electronics, transportation and telecommunications. Our CONDIS(R) high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors help to ensure the safety and reliability of electric utility infrastructure and other applications involving transport, distribution and measurement of high-voltage electrical energy. Our radiation-mitigated microelectronic products include power modules, memory modules and single board computers that incorporate powerful commercial silicon for superior performance and high reliability in aerospace applications. For more information, please visit our website: www.maxwell.com
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 123,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
