International now offers the Xantrex Freedom XC 1800W pure sine-wave inverter/charger as a factory option. Volvo and Mack also offer the Freedom XC on their sleeper vehicles as of December 2023, making consistent, “clean” energy more easily accessible for truck drivers.
“More than 75% of sleeper units are now being spec’d with inverters or inverter/chargers and that number continues to grow,” said Mitul Chandrani, VP of marketing for Mission Critical Electronics, the parent company of Xantrex. “It’s an AC-world in trucks these days – powering microwaves, laptops, medical devices and power tools.”
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Chandrani noted that International customers can spec two inverter options on their vehicles: The Freedom XC inverter/charger, which offers 1,800 watts and 4,000 watts of surge power for two seconds, or the Freedom X 1200, which offers 1,200 watts. Additionally, the Freedom XC includes an 80-amp, built-in, three-stage battery charger for rapid charging with shore power as well as a 30-amp relay, and a mounted display panel in the sleeper to monitor the electrical system’s status. This panel displays items such as AC and battery current and the percentage of the inverter output.
Finally, the Freedom XC works with both traditional and Lithium-ion batteries for greater flexibility.
“Li-ion batteries offer more power in a compact size and can be discharged to lower levels than traditional gel or lead acid batteries,” Chandrani said. “It’s a great combination, especially if you want to use an engine-off HVAC solution.”