Beginning next year, all fuel-operated heaters (bunk heaters and engine pre-heaters) are required to meet the California Air Resource Boards ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle's) idling emissions reduction requirements. This regulation affects all Class 8

trucks and other commercial motor vehicles with a gross weight rating over 14,000 pounds and all diesel-fueled commercial motor vehicles with GVW of over 10,000 pounds.
Espar Heater Systems has received certification and compliance to three of its popular fuel operated heating systems for the truck and bus markets. The three heaters are the Airtronic D2 (small bunk heater), Airtronic D4 (large bunk heater), and the Hydronic 5 (engine pre-heater).
No trucks will be allowed to idle for more than five minutes in the state of California starting on Jan. 1, 2008. Penalties include fines from both the DOT and CHP. Trucks traveling into the state past that date will have an automatic shut down switch that will activate over the five-minute time interval. In an effort to curb unnecessary idling, CARB adopted this mandate. At the same time they mandated that all anti-idling technologies including both fuel-operated heaters and APU's meet certain restrictions when it came to exhaust gases. Limits were put on gases, which included Nox, CO, particulate matter, HCHO and NMOG.
"When the mandate was adopted over a year ago, Espar reacted immediately under the direction of Espar's President Volker Hohensee" says John Dennehy, vice president of marketing and communications for Espar Products.
He said Espar is shipping all heaters with stickers indicating they are CARB compliant. "We will have one on the heater and one for the driver to place on his vehicle, so that in the event the driver is asked for proof he can readily show the inspector that the heater has met conformance.