Now fitted on two leading global manufacturers of commercial vehicles, Wabco says it will launch its c-comp clutched air compressor in North America later this year. Wabco began installing the fuel-saving air brake system air compressors on European heavy-duty trucks and buses in January.

Wabco says the c-comp features the industry’s most compact compressor design, combining high-performance and best-in-class-efficiency.

The c-comp air compressor disengages from the engine through a pneumatic signal when no air is needed allowing fuel savings up to 145 gallons annually over a typical North American long haul operation of 125,000 miles. The c-comp has a simple on-off control and only draws power from the engine during the pumping phase, switching off completely during the long off-load phase. This leads to a significant reduction of the compressor’s overall energy demand. It also reduces maintenance costs due to lower carbonization and at the same time, enhances driver comfort due to reduced noise levels.

“We are proud to announce these two major customer adoptions of our industry-leading, compact air compressor with integrated clutch for volume production,” said Nikhil Varty, president of Wabco Americas. “These latest customer awards continue to demonstrate WABCO’s differentiation through breakthrough innovations that offer dual benefits of enhanced vehicle efficiency and lower operating costs.”