Webasto Product North America and ESW Group are integrating two technologies that officials said will give fleets and municipalities the opportunity to obtain Diesel Emission Reduction Act funding for emission-control and idle-reduction equipment.

Webasto is a manufacturer of fuel-operated heaters that help to eliminate the need to idle for engine pre-heat.

Officials said the high-efficiency heaters provide many benefits to fleets and their owner/operators, including fuel savings, reduced engine wear, driver comfort and safety, in addition to helping them comply with anti-idling regulations.

ESW Group’s diesel particulate filter system removes particulate matter from the exhaust gas of diesel engines.

“The synergy that is realized from combining the two technologies creates a truly green vehicle,” Webasto National Sales Manager Kurt Van Portfliet said. “We are addressing overall emissions to create mission readiness while the vehicle is moving through its normal duty cycle.”

The EPA awards funding for diesel emission-reduction projects through grants that are reviewed by the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The grants fund projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines through various strategies, including emission-control and idle-reduction technologies. Webasto’s engine-off heaters and ESW Group’s diesel particulate filters are “a perfect fit” for these grants, according to the companies.

Organizations that are eligible for the funding include regional, state and local agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality.  

Nonprofit organizations that provide pollution-reduction or educational services to organizations that own or operate diesel fleets, such as school districts, municipalities, cities and counties are also eligible for these grants.

“The Webasto and ESW product integration provides fleets with great advantages in rough environments,” said Duane Bratvold, director of customer and product support, ESW. “It eliminates cold starts, reduces soot at start-up and reduces frequency of regeneration. Our goal is to help fleets become green, which, in turn, helps the communities where they operate.”