ENGINE START MODULE CASE STUDY

*Lead-acid batteries still power ECM/ECU. Results may vary. See installation instructions for further information.

Fleet Manager Eliminates 4+ Jump-Starts Per Month with Maxwell Engine Start ModuleCHALLENGEFleet Maintenance Manager Justin Donnay called for road service four to five times per month for a fleet driver who got stranded in the mornings after a night’s use of electronic devices. Donnay tried different tactics to help the driver prevent morning jump-starts, including having the driver run the truck for a few hours before going to sleep to recharge the batteries. Despite this effort, “the next morning the truck would still die,” Donnay said.

SOLUTIONDonnay installed the ultracapacitor-based Maxwell ESM in the driver’s Peterbilt truck, connect-ing it directly to the starter. The Maxwell ESM completely takes over the starting function, free-ing the batteries to power all other onboard electronic loads. The driver continued to use the same electronic devices overnight, but the difference was that, in the morning, Donnay didn’t have to call for a jump-start. As long as the batteries provide the power the ECM needs, the Maxwell ESM will start the truck even if the batteries are low on voltage. “Within the first month, I had saved at least four jump-starts,” Donnay said.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT“My breaking point was a $740 service call to get the unit started,” said Donnay. “That’s when I decided that in and of itself paid off the Maxwell ESM. If the batteries are junk, you have to put in a set of batteries on the side of the road. A couple of times I’ve had an $800 to $900 service call just for a jump-start.”

Donnay added that the Maxwell ESM has saved him on other costs associated with no-starts, including an average of two to three hours of downtime per jump-start and the time and money spent on replacing bad batteries.

CUSTOMERQ Carriers, Inc. | Shakopee, MN

THE SHORTFALLLead-acid batteries are drained in the mornings due to driver’s overnight use of electronic devices

THE COMEBACKMaxwell’s ultracapacitor ESM removes the starting function from the batteries, providing reliable morning starts despite low-voltage batteries*

“The Maxwell ESM has over and over again paid itself off and proven its worth to this fleet.”Justin Donnay, Q Carriers, Inc.

Call (858) 503-3277 to learn more about how the Maxwell ESM improves fleet uptime with reliable starting

www.maxwell.com

Maxwell Engine Start Module Delivers Instant Power for Cold Weather CrankingCHALLENGERail yard driver Mike Deffely shuts off his truck 30 to 40 times a day when working intermodal. During Ohio’s cold winter months, his truck’s lead-acid batteries often left him stranded. “When it gets colder, the batteries aren’t cranking hard enough,” he said. “Usually you have to wait at least a half hour to charge everything up or enough to a point where you can start, and then once you’ve got it started, you cannot shut the truck off. It was a pain.”

SOLUTIONDeffely retrofitted his 2002 Freightliner Columbia with a Maxwell ESM. He removed one battery from the four-battery system and replaced it with one ESM, which connects directly to the starter and isolates the batteries from the starter. When Mike turned on the truck using the power of the ultracapacitors, the first thing he noticed was “how quick it starts. It’s instant power.”

RETURN ON INVESTMENTWhen he considered the stress, downtime, battery replacement and jump-start costs, plus the impact of lost time on his schedule and logbook, Deffely said the Maxwell ESM was worth the investment. He’s confident the ESM saved him at least $500 in the past year. “That includes batteries and calling somebody out to jump-start.” Deffely said the Maxwell ESM resulted in fuel savings too. Thanks to reliable starts with the ESM, Deffely no longer has to idle the truck to avoid failures-to-start. He also points out that the Maxwell ESM was a good choice for helping to keep his older truck in business. “I know when I turn the key, I’m going to have 1,800 cold cranking amps.”

CUSTOMERMTD Logistics, Inc. | Liberty Center, OH

THE SHORTFALLLead-acid batteries fail to crank the truck in cold weather

THE COMEBACKMaxwell’s ultracapacitor ESM increases the output voltage as temperatures get colder, providing faster cranks down to –40°F

“I have absolutely no fear of my truck not starting whatsoever.”Mike Deffely, MTD Logistics, Inc.

Call (858) 503-3277 to learn more about how the Maxwell ESM improves fleet uptime with reliable starting

www.maxwell.comDocument number: 3001735-EN.2

ENGINE START MODULE CASE STUDY

A Freightliner battery box retrofitted with one Maxwell ESM for reliable cold weather starts

The statements made in these case studies reflect the experience of the featured customer. Individual customer results may vary.