Discover the Innovative Battery Technology Powering Truck Fleets Through Winter
Freezing temperatures can create havoc for haulage operators with failing batteries and subsequent vehicle breakdowns becoming a key area of concern this time of year. As the average vehicle battery loses up to 60 percent of its starting power when temperatures fall below 0oC and it takes up to twice as much power to start an engine in cold weather, it’s easy to see why fleet managers brace themselves for winter.
Battery performance is a vital component in making sure vehicles operate efficiently, particularly when temperatures start to plummet. To address the challenges of winter breakdowns in commercial fleets, more original equipment manufacturers, logistics companies and operators are switching to ODYSSEY® batteries, produced by leading global stored energy manufacturer, EnerSys®.
Developed using next generation Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology, ODYSSEY batteries are designed to keep truck fleets running efficiently in temperatures as low as -40oC. Providing the highest level of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) available, ODYSSEY batteries ensure trucks start with ease, even on the iciest of mornings.
Modern trucks are loaded with accessories, which rely on battery power and heavy usage of heating, demisters and lights during the winter months all contribute to the high electrical demands on vehicle batteries. Fleet managers are required to choose wisely when looking for a solution that can support all onboard services, without compromising the massive cranking power required to start the engine time and again, particularly when the temperature drops.
It’s also becoming more common place for long-distance lorry drivers to operate on double/triple driver shift patterns, with trucks doubling up as hotel rooms while parked up overnight. This means batteries are the sole source of power for cooking, heating and lighting, which is having a huge impact as conventional flooded lead acid batteries struggle to cope with continuous use.
ODYSSEY batteries are optimised to support the heavy electrical loads of the modern fleet, especially during engine off phases, helping haulage operators to meet increasing environmental and air quality regulations.
Director of Transportation for EMEA & APAC at EnerSys, Peter ‘t Hart, explains why ODYSSEY Battery is a smart choice for fleet operators who can’t risk vehicle breakdowns disrupting services during the winter months. He said: “Cold temperatures reduce the starting power of conventional vehicle batteries by up to 60 percent and the colder the engine, the more energy it needs to get going.
“Consequently, weak batteries tend to fail more frequently during the winter, which can dramatically increase the risk of vehicle breakdowns, causing disruption to delivery schedules and the inconvenience of goods arriving late. Upgrading to ODYSSEY Battery can help drive down the number of avoidable breakdowns when the temperature drops, cutting out unnecessary down time and reducing the cost of call outs and battery replacements, which are often picked up by operators and logistics companies.
“Effectively providing the performance of two batteries in one, ODYSSEY batteries offer superb deep cycle capacity to power the heavy usage required for hotel loading and double or triple driver shift patterns, whilst also delivering enough cranking power to start the engine, even when the temperature plummets.
He added: “Managing a commercial fleet can be a challenging task, with routine maintenance schedules, vehicle tracking and unexpected downtime to navigate, as well as the constant pressure of keeping costs under control. Vehicles failing to start on cold winter mornings should be one less issue for fleet managers to tackle, thanks to the power of ODYSSEY Battery.”
First used in aerospace and military applications, the innovative technology behind ODYSSEY batteries provides twice the power and three times the life of conventional batteries, with engine cranking pulses up to 2,700 amps for five seconds.
Backed by an industry-leading three-year warranty, ODYSSEY batteries are unaffected by high impact shock or vibration and can be stored at room temperature for more than two years, without the need for charging or maintenance.
ODYSSEY batteries are a smart investment for fleet managers looking to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and improve efficiency, particularly during the winter months. Find out more at eu.odysseybattery.com.
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