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ODYSSEY® Batteries Power Vehicle Accessories Without Engine Idling

Vehicle idling, which is running the engine while the vehicle in not in motion, wastes fuel and contributes to air pollution. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions than stopping and restarting the engine. The combined waste created when light- and heavy-duty vehicles run idle is estimated to be 6 billion gallons of fuel annually.

 Engine idling is common among drivers of all kinds of vehicles. For example, people will run their cars idle when in line at drive-through windows, when picking up children from school and when sitting in rush-hour traffic. With heavy-duty vehicles, truck drivers will let their engines run idle to power the heat or air conditioning in their cabins so they can sleep comfortably in between travel shifts. An increasing number of states and municipalities, however, have been enacting laws to prohibit idling for reductions in air pollution and fuel waste, and vehicle manufacturers have responded with technologies that range from stop/start systems to Electronic Auxiliary Power Units (EAPUs).

These technologies all rely on stored energy to handle the loads while the vehicle is stopped but still occupied. Through rigorous testing, many fleets and manufacturers have determined that Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology offers a cost effective and reliable solution for the increased demands put on the battery without diminishing the expected service life.

ODYSSEY® batteries, featuring TPPL technology, provide long-lasting power and longevity, even in heavy-duty applications that use many accessories without idling. Their plates are flat and made of pure lead, which can cycle better, deeper and more than other chemistries.

In addition to their deep-cycling capacity, ODYSSEY® batteries generate engine cranking pulses up to 2,700 amps for 5 seconds, which is double that of equally sized conventional flooded lead acid batteries. They also feature a three- to ten-year service life and a two-year storage life at 77°F (25°C).

Besides TPPL technology, ODYSSEY® batteries feature an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction and non-spillable design that resist high-impact shock and mechanical vibration, which are two common causes of battery failure.

Drivers of heavy-duty vehicles depend upon a range of in-cab accessories to support a comfortable environment, which requires a battery that can handle the load when the engine is idle. With double the power and triple the life of conventional flooded lead acid batteries, ODYSSEY® batteries with TPPL technology can meet this demand, while their substantial cranking power dependably starts the engine.

ABOUT ENERSYS®

EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the recent NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries, which are sold across all three lines of business. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.