In fleet management, keeping passenger compartments at a comfortable temperature and safe from bad weather is a commercial imperative. HVAC systems can be crucial for keeping machinery running and reducing costs when it comes to things like food safety, worker health, and following regulatory standards.
Why Fleet HVAC Matters
HVAC plays a part in your vehicle, which can include carrying delicate goods, working on-site for extended periods of time, or carrying crews from site to site.
- Compliance: Temperature control is critical for compliance, safeguarding shipments, and protecting warranties across cold chain logistics, medical transport, and specialized equipment.
- Personnel recruiting and safety: Pleasant working circumstances to keep crew productivity and prevent weariness.
- Operating costs: Incorrect technologies can waste fuel or deplete batteries, but proper solutions strike a balance between comfort and economy.
- Longevity: Proper ventilation prevents humidity, corrosion, and mold from forming, which makes the van last longer and safer to operate.
HVAC can be a big issue for fleet managers because it's not only about comfort; it's also about protecting assets, employee safety, complying with regulations, and saving money.
Core HVAC Options for Vans
1. Roof Vent Fans (12V)
Best for: Ventilation, condensation control, and mild-climate airflow.
Roof vent fans are the best improvement since they are the lightest, easiest, and cheapest. The Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe comes with a covered roof vent and a fan that can be used to either exhaust or bring in air. These fans are an excellent initial choice for fleets that work in moderate climates or to complement your HVAC system.
Benefits for fleets:
- Keeps tools, components, and supplies dry.
- Using as little electricity as possible keeps the crew comfortable.
- Easy to install, which means less vehicle downtime for installation
Disadvantages: Fans cannot regulate the temperature like a true HVAC system. They are best suited for cargo van shelving, telecom service vans, or light-duty commerce vehicles operating in regions with milder climates.
2. 12V Rooftop Air Conditioners
Best for: Fleets that need to stay cool while on the move and not rely on shore power or complex electrical systems.
The Dometic RTX 2000 (around 6,800 BTU) is an example of a unit that really cools the air and can switch between two modes of operation.
- Key On/Engine Running Operation: It gets power from the alternator. Great for when fleets want to cool down during servicing breaks, where shutting off the engine is not a requirement.
- Key-Off Operation: Often powered from a backup battery bank that has the right capacity for the intended run duration. This is often used for fleets where idling is not allowed for environmental or maintenance cost reasons.
Fleet use cases:
- Telecom service vehicles are parked at work sites.
- Utility workers need to cool down along the side of the road.
- Delivery vehicles operating in hot climates like Texas, Arizona, and Florida.
3. 120V Rooftop Air Conditioners
Best for: Keeping things cold when there is shore, inverter, or generator power available.
Systems like the Domestic Penguin II or Blizzard NXT that are made for RVs work well; certain versions even have heat pump capabilities for heating. These units work best when vans that routinely report to depots have access to shore power or when they are utilized with a generator or inverter
Ways to power 120V A/C:
- Shore Power: Plug into depot outlets.
- Generator: For places that are hard to get to.
- Inverter and Battery Bank
120V rooftop A/C works extremely well for fleets that are parked for long periods of time. Typically, the cost is less per BTU than 12V systems. Examples include mobile medical units, mobile offices, and command centers.
4. Fuel-Fired Cabin Heaters
Best for: Getting reliable heat in the cold, even without the engine running.
The Espar Airtronic S2 D2L is an example of a gasoline-fired air heater that gets its fuel from the van's gas or diesel tank and provides effective dry heat at around 2 kW. These systems also work effectively in temperatures below freezing, which is different from the heat pumps found in air conditioners.
Why they work for the fleet:
- Uses far less fuel per hour, typically about 1 gallon for every 20 hours of operation.
- Keeps moisture from building up, which is important for storing tools and goods.
- Eliminates the need for overnight engine idling, cutting fuel costs and engine wear.
Use cases: Canadian fleets, service vans in the northern U.S., and businesses that stay busy all year round, even in the winter.
5. Tie-In HVAC Systems
Best for: Running temperature control in the rear compartments while the car is moving.
Systems that use the Webasto "London" Horizontal Heating Cooling Evaporator, which adds a separate compressor/condenser setup to the original HVAC. These are great for passenger shuttles or vans that make short journeys often and don't need to cool down when parked.
Important limitation: Tie-in systems will not work when the key is off. If you need independent cooling or heating, you may use a 12V or 120V rooftop unit.
Recommended Build Scenarios
- Bare-Bones Ventilation: One MaxxFan Deluxe. Great for cargo vehicles in places with warm weather.
- Fan + Cooling Assist: MaxxFan plus insulation and window tinting. It keeps vehicles cool even without full air conditioning.
- Work-Van Cooling (Driving/Idling): Dometic RTX 2000 or Webasto London for fleets that need temperature control at work sites while driving or idling.
- All-Day Parked Cooling: RTX 2000 plus auxiliary batteries, or 120V A/C plus inverter/shore power. Suited to fleets in high-heat states requiring key-off operation.
- Four Season Comfort: Combine an Espar fuel-fired heater with your A/C system. This is for fleets in Canada and the north.
Electrical Sizing: Avoiding Costly Mistakes
The biggest and most expensive problem we face with fleet installation is batteries and inverters that do not have enough capacity. The size of the battery bank and inverter you need (if you need one) is based on your car, how you want to use it, and how long you want it to operate. A well-designed system strikes a balance between comfort, efficiency, and the health of the battery over time.
Some general rules are:
- 12V A/C Systems: To figure out how much battery power you need, you need to know how many amps the unit will consume and how long you want to operate it. Many people who own vans want them to cool down for 2 to 4 hours when parked, and then they want to charge the batteries by driving, using solar power, or plugging them into shore power.
- 120V A/C via an inverter: The inverter has to be big enough to handle both the normal load and the extra load that comes on when the A/C starts up. Your battery bank must also be able to meet the inverter's needs. When shore power is available, it may operate the A/C directly instead of going via the inverter. This puts less stress on the batteries.
Why This Matters:
If you size your power system correctly, you may achieve the duration you want without putting too much strain on your batteries. A system that is too small might cause short runtimes, batteries that need to be recharged often, or batteries that wear out too quickly. Too much size may cost more and take up room that might be used for other things. Finding the appropriate balance is important for comfort and efficiency.
Final Thoughts On the Right HVAC System for Your Fleet Vehicle
When North American fleet owners make judgments about HVAC, they go beyond comfort. They also think about compliance, uptime, and operational expenses. The best system for your vehicle can depend on factors such as the climate, how often you need it, and whether or not you need to be able to run it with the engine running.
We design and install HVAC systems at Volition Components that work as hard as your fleet. We can help you with a simple vent setup, prolonged key-off cooling, or a complete four-season kit. We will put together a package that gets your vehicles and staff ready to work.
👉 Request a Quote Today and let us help you build the right HVAC solution for your fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fleet Van HVAC
- Can a fan replace A/C?
Fans move air around and decrease the amount of moisture in the air, but they don't lower the temperature of the air. They are better as a complement than a complete solution since they promote air movement and help heating and cooling systems.
2. Is a heat pump enough for winter operations?
In places where it is warm. Heat pumps function well on chilly nights when it's not too cold, but they don't work well at all when it's really cold. Fuel-fired heaters are the best method to heat vehicles in the northern parts of the U.S. and Canada in the winter, which is what we see with our big fleet clients.
3. Should I choose a gasoline or diesel-fired heater?
The best heater for you is one that works with the fuel type that your vehicle uses. Both gas and diesel choices work quite well. Also, utilizing the same fuel means you don't have to worry about safety, storage, or the hassle of having separate kinds of fuel.
4. Can I run A/C from the alternator while parked?
Yes, for a 12V A/C, the alternator gives electricity to the car while the engine is idling. For a 120V A/C, you will need shore power, a generator, or an inverter system with a battery bank.
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