Webasto North America has introduced the Thermo Top Evo coolant heater, an engine-off heating technology that operates directly from diesel fuel drawn from the vehicle’s primary fuel tank.

The Thermo Top Evo is designed to be more flexible to install, offers intuitive diagnostics and features a quieter heater and fuel delivery system.

With an 8,600–17,200 BTU/h range and ultra-low power consumption, the Thermo Top Evo is capable of pre-heating a wide range of vehicle types, from light-duty commercial vehicles to heavy-duty trucks, according to Webasto.

Its compact size makes it suited for installation in vehicles with limited space. The Thermo Top Evo’s coolant inlet and outlet ports at the top of the heater can rotate up to 180 degrees for greater flexibility for routing coolant lines.

The unit comes with a longer fuel line, universal controller harness and mounting bracket. The Thermo Top Evo also operates at a higher maximum combustion air temperature that allows it to be mounted in more locations within the engine compartment.

The Thermo Top Evo also gives users the ability to read simple fault codes at the controller without the need for ancillary equipment or software. This feature enables the driver to identify the specific fault category while on the road and to make the necessary adjustments. The Thermo Top Evo can be controlled manually or programmed to turn on in advance via Webasto’s SmarTemp Control fx 2.0 so the engine is pre-warmed when the driver arrives.

“By using the Webasto Thermo Top Evo pre-heater, fleets can save fuel by reducing idling time, warming engines so they start easier and by avoiding extended engine warm-up times,” said Don Kanneth, aftermarket sales director for Webasto North America. “Most important, however, is that the Thermo Top Evo helps fleets reduce maintenance by reducing the strain on emission control devices, like DPFs.”