Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America unveiled what it says is an efficient and easy-to-use digital bunk thermostat at the Mid-America Trucking Show. The SmarTemp Control works with Webasto’s Air Top 2000 ST bunk heater to deliver ultra-precise temperature control while saving fuel, lowering emissions, ensuring compliance and reducing maintenance costs, the company said. SmarTemp is compact and simple to use because drivers dial in the temperature they want – right for higher temperatures and left for lower temperatures -- and the device does the rest. Once set, bunk temperature is precisely maintained, allowing drivers to get the rest they need between shifts. “We were looking for an intelligent, effective and ergonomically pleasing user interface, and the dial control method just stood out from the other options,” said Mark Hickey, vice president of business development. “The first thing you notice about the device is the dial, and how intuitive and easy it makes the overall unit operation.” A large, backlit LCD screen is easy to read and prominently displays the ambient bunk-space temperature as well as the corresponding set temperature, he said. The screen brightens while in use and automatically dims itself a few moments after interaction. The dial has tactile feedback with a one-click-to-one-degree ratio that makes adjusting it easy to do in the dark, even without looking at the screen. Simple best describes the SmarTemp’s controller logic, Hickey said. The user easily toggles between menu options with just the push of a button, and once in the chosen menu, uses the dial to scroll up or down to the desired selection. Main menu preferences allow a user to quickly select the heat or ventilation mode, one of three languages and Fahrenheit or Celsius temperature scales. Options allow users to select continuous or timed run periods, low-voltage disconnect thresholds, password protection and preventive maintenance reminders. Integrated panels softly glow red when in heating mode, blue when in ventilation mode, and blink to indicate a diagnostic alert. Webasto’s Air Top 2000 ST heater consumes less fuel and imposes a lower amperage demand on the vehicle’s electrical system and battery than competing systems, Hickey said. By choosing a Webasto heater, vehicle owners may qualify for supplemental funding under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). Qualified recipients can obtain DERA reimbursement by retrofitting existing vehicles. Hickey noted that the SmarTemp Control will work with any existing Air Top 2000 ST bunk heater and that retrofitting equipment is fast and easy. Webasto pioneered the development of fuel-operated air heating technology, introducing the world’s first commercially available unit in the 1950s. The company produces more than a million heaters a year and remains a leading innovator of heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars, heavy-duty on- and off-road vehicles, as well as watercraft.