Fleets shopping for an APU now have another option to consider—the new air-cooled 5-kW APU from Kohler Power Systems. Available for order now through Kohler dealers and distributors, production of the new system will begin in April.
“We are offering a space-saving, fuel-efficient product that keeps installation and maintenance costs to a minimum,” said Chris Baldwin, director of the Kohler Mobile Generator Business. “The Kohler APU provides the peace of mind that comes with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use, backed by an industry-leading distribution and service network of more than 500 Kohler distributors and dealers throughout North America.”
The self-contained, side-rail mounted unit weighs in at less than 340 lb., but it is designed to power a Kohler-branded in-cab heating and air-conditioning system, recharge the truck’s batteries and handle various hotel loads besides. It includes a diesel-fueled, four-cycle, single-cylinder engine certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conform to Tier 2 emissions regulations and certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as well. The APU uses “tenths of a gallon” of fuel per hour under typical load and has an oil service interval of 500 hours.
Directly connected to the engine, the dual-brushed generator is mounted in a protective aluminum enclosure with Class H insulation and features copper windings, remote start capability, an integral muffler, and four-point mounting with vibration insulators. The result is a system that purrs along at under 70dBA, according to the company.
The Kohler Advanced Digital Controller is standard on the new APU. It is engineered to allow the operator to start and stop the generator and adjust the heating and cooling from inside the cab. It also features an easy-to-read LED screen that displays up to 13 operational conditions, including runtime hours, crank cycle status, diagnostics, and numerous fault code and warning indicators, such as high engine temperature, low oil pressure or low battery voltage.
