Long-haul semi · Class 8 sleeper
Rest without idling.
The Kraken eAPU is an electric auxiliary power unit for sleeper cabs. It keeps the A/C, lights and the comforts of home running through the DOT-mandated rest period, with the engine off.
Idling used to be a California problem. Now it's a fuel bill.
With diesel where it is, every hour a truck idles to keep the cab livable is fuel burned going nowhere. Idle-reduction rules started this conversation; operating cost is finishing it. For fleets and owner-operators alike, clean idle has become an economic decision, not just a compliance one.
- Property-carrying drivers must take 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving again, and sleeper-berth splits must add up to at least 10 hours. That is the rest period the cab has to stay comfortable through. It is not a published Kraken runtime. FMCSA hours-of-service summary
- In California, diesel commercial vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR, including sleeper-berth trucks, may not idle the primary engine for more than five minutes, and 2008-and-newer heavy-duty diesel engines must have an automatic idle shutdown after five minutes (or meet an optional NOx idling standard). CARB idling ATCM
- CARB: as of 1 January 2008, sleeper berth vehicles are no longer allowed to idle during periods of sleep and rest. CARB idle-reduction technologies for sleeper berths
- U.S. DOE: vehicles burn more than 6 billion gallons of fuel a year without moving. Idling wastes fuel and increases engine wear. DOE AFDC idle reduction
One system. Engine off. Cab on.
- 1
Charge while you drive.
The Kraken system recovers energy from the truck's charging system on the road, and from shore power at the terminal or an electrified truck stop where available, and stores it in a dedicated house battery bank. Starting batteries stay separate.
- 2
Power the rest period.
When you park, the engine goes off and the eAPU takes over the hotel loads: sleeper A/C, lights, fridge, microwave, CPAP and device charging, through 12 V and 120 V circuits.
- 3
Protect the start.
The house bank is separate from the truck's starting batteries, so running the cab overnight is not the same as drawing down the batteries you need to start the truck.
- 4
Out of the way, inside the cab.
The Kraken eAPU installs in the cab's lower rear storage compartment, under the bunk. The house batteries go either in that same compartment or on the frame rail behind the fuel tank.
- 5
Sized to your truck.
Every Kraken eAPU is sized by the engineering engine against the loads you actually run and the rest period you need to cover.
A battery-electric system with the engine off does not idle the engine. This page does not claim a CARB certification or label for the eAPU.
Built for the way you run.
For fleets
- Idle hours become engine-off hours at the dock and the truck stop.
- Less idle time on the main engine.
- Engine-off rest periods in idle-restricted states and cities, without relying on driver habits.
- A cool, quiet, powered cab is a recruiting and retention tool.
- Save a configuration in the builder and repeat it truck to truck.
For owner-operators
- Diesel you don't burn idling stays in your pocket. A dollar figure is not published here.
- Engine off means a quieter cab and A/C that keeps running.
- Fridge, microwave, coffee, TV and CPAP on real outlets.
- Stay comfortable in idle-restricted locations.
See it sized for your sleeper cab.
Enter the cab loads and rest period. The builder sizes an eAPU package for your truck and draws it.
What a Kraken eAPU powers
| Load | Typical circuit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper A/C (electric, no-idle) | 12 V DC | The biggest rest-period load. It drives system size. |
| Cab and bunk lighting | 12 V DC | |
| Fridge | 12 V DC | Cycles through the stop. |
| Microwave | 120 V AC | Short, high draw. |
| CPAP | 120 V AC | Must run all night. |
| Device charging | 120 V AC / USB | Phone, tablet, laptop. |
| TV and entertainment | 120 V AC | Optional. |
| Coffee maker | 120 V AC | Optional, short cycle. |
| ELD and telematics | 12 V DC | Always on. |
| Shore power inlet | — | At the terminal or an electrified truck stop, where available. |
Every system is sized by Kraken's engineering engine against the loads and rest period you enter. Actual capability depends on your configuration. Runtime, recharge time, fuel savings, weight and noise are not published here.
Spec your eAPU in minutes.
Pick Long-haul semi (Class 8 sleeper) eAPU in the Kraken builder. The rest-period hotel loads are pre-filled. Adjust them, and the engine sizes a Good / Better / Best package with drawings.
Questions
What is an eAPU?
An electric auxiliary power unit. Instead of idling the main engine or running a diesel APU, it powers the cab from a dedicated battery system so the engine can stay off through the rest period.
How long will it run my A/C?
It depends on your truck, your loads and the weather. The builder sizes the system to the rest period you need to cover. The FMCSA off-duty period for property-carrying drivers is 10 consecutive hours. That period is not a published Kraken runtime.
Will it drain my starting batteries?
The house bank is separate from the truck's starting batteries.
How does it recharge?
From the truck's charging system while driving, and from shore power where available.
Is it legal in California?
California limits primary-engine idling to five minutes and has prohibited sleeper-berth idling during sleep and rest since 2008. A battery-electric system with the engine off does not idle the engine. This page does not claim a CARB certification.
How much fuel will I save?
A savings figure is not published.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on configuration. Build your system online or talk to a Kraken rep.
Where does it go on the truck?
The Kraken eAPU installs inside the cab's lower rear storage compartment, under the bunk. House batteries go in that same compartment or on the frame rail behind the fuel tank.