Azure Dynamics Corporation, a leading developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial and military vehicles, today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kidron division of VT Specialized Vehicles Corporation (VT SVC). The MOU is for the branding, marketing and sale of Azure's Under-the-Hood (UTH) system throughout the North American refrigerated truck body segment.
The UHT system was developed for the DRS Sustainment program, formerly EASI, for which Azure has now received CDN$19 million in orders. Under the proposed terms of the MOU, Azure will provide Kidron the UHT system for commercial truck markets and Kidron will integrate the systems into its trucks and truck bodies for refrigeration units. Kidron will market this product through Kidron's sales team and distributors across North America.
Azure's UTH system delivers significant improvements in fuel utilization and emission levels. Its hybrid technology stores energy in Kidron's cold plate refrigeration system when the engine is running. When the engine is off, the stored energy is used to maintain refrigeration temperatures. The UTH is also a natural anti-idle system. Stationary engine run-time can be improved by approximately 95% compared to conventional systems. Kidron's cold plate technology provides excellent energy storage capability and quieter operations at delivery sites over engine driven refrigeration systems.