As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020, the commercial trucking industry is experiencing an increased demand for the delivery of critical goods like food and medical products. Fleet drivers are essential workers who continue to provide critical deliveries that ensure a dependable supply of crucial resources. This has increased the recognition that the need for a reliable, premium power solution is imperative to fleet operations. For more than two decades, ODYSSEY® batteries have provided superior power performance to customers across the globe and are uniquely engineered to meet the high demands highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis.
While continuing to deliver essential goods, drivers still must protect themselves from infection, as well as protect others. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that drivers observe social distancing, citing examples that are characteristic of their jobs. Among these recommendations are limiting time spent outside of the cab when fueling, loading, making deliveries and visiting rest stops. Drivers are encouraged to use radio or phone contact with dock managers and other drivers; bring their own food, water and supplies; and ensure proper ventilation of the cab.
Many of these CDC recommendations involve greater dependence on the cab’s accessories, such as communications technology to minimize in-person contact, refrigerators to store food and eliminate the need for eating in restaurants, and air conditioning to ensure proper ventilation. The increased use of these accessories will place a greater burden on the vehicle’s battery, which makes the choice of a battery even more critical during the current crisis.
The increased use of cab accessories taxes the power of the vehicle’s battery. Designed to comply with no-idling restrictions placed on large heavy duty and commercial vehicles, ODYSSEY® batteries can handle the additional demands placed on them by increased accessory use without diminishing battery life. ODYSSEY® batteries also provide the same kind of power and longevity for light- and medium-duty vehicles.
Manufactured with proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology, the ODYSSEY® battery portfolio provides premium, long-lasting and virtually maintenance-free power. Their rugged Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction and non-spillable design protect against high impact shock and mechanical vibration, two common causes of battery failure. ODYSSEY® batteries provide deep cycle reserve power and maximum cranking power, with engine cranking pulses up to 2,700 amps for five seconds, which is double that of equally sized conventional flooded lead acid batteries. Backed by an industry-leading warranty, they feature a three- to ten-year service life and a two-year storage life at 77°F (25°C).
During the pandemic, drivers are depending more on their cab accessoriesto support alternatives necessitated by social distancing. This increased demand for power in the vehicle requires a battery that can handle the load. ODYSSEY® batteries for heavy duty and commercial vehicles with TPPL technology will meet this demand with double the power and triple the life of conventional flooded lead acid batteries.
This year, EnerSys® marks 25 years of ODYSSEY® battery production and is celebrating this important milestone with a series of digital activities set to launch throughout 2021. To follow the ODYSSEY® battery 25th Anniversary journey, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag #MYODYSSEY.