Idle Free Heat uses residual heat from the engine to keep the interior of the bus warm, circulating the heat through the vents when the bus is turned off. According to inventor and owner Joel Ewell, the system produces no emissions and consumes no fuel.

“A typical school bus spends one to three hours a day idling just to keep the inside of the bus heated,” Ewell said. “With Idle Free Heat installed, the bus no longer needs the engine idling in order to keep the heat flowing. Now, the driver and passengers can stay warm without polluting our air with vehicle emissions.”

Ewell secured a patent for his Idle Free Heat system and opened for business in January 2017. The system consists of an electronic control unit, a small pump, and an activation button for the driver.