Latest APU options to help your drives catch Z's in 2026

Manufacturers of auxiliary power units (APUs) designed for sleeper cabs definitely haven’t been asleep at the wheel in recent years. For fleets that want to reduce truck idling, improve driver satisfaction, and make things a little easier on technicians, modern units are maximizing performance while minimizing maintenance needs and total cost of ownership.

Here’s a look at some of the top sleeper cab APUs for 2026.

Diesel APUs

Carrier Transicold’s Aspen APU is powered by a 2-cylinder diesel engine, while a 6kW generator powers appliances and electronics. Unique features include Battery Monitor mode and Winter Watch mode to help facilitate engine preheating. Aspen is also available with an integrated coolant-exchange system to warm the tractor’s engine or as a stand-alone system that heats the engine using a block heater powered by the APU generator.

Dynasys Gen3K diesel APU operates independently to prevent downtime, connecting only to the truck’s battery and fuel tank, not the vehicle coolant and AC systems. The Kubota 2-cyl. engine produces 14.5 BHP at 3,200 RPM. A 6 kW generator powers appliances. Climate control delivers 12,000 BTU/hr. cooling and 2,500 watts of heating through double heat coils. An upgraded controller displays critical diagnostic info.

Green APU is powered by a 3-cylinder Kubota diesel engine and uses industry-standard components to help keep maintenance costs down. Additionally, a clean, serviceable layout is designed to keep things easier for technicians. All diagnostics are built into the APU controller, so there is no need for software updates or specialized diagnostic tools.

Thermo King’s 3rd Generation TriPac APU is powered by a 2-cylinder diesel engine. One model in the line features a unique aftertreatment device with new metal mesh technology for faster regeneration in as little as eight minutes. Streamlined wire harnesses, connectors, fusing, and routing improve installation and serviceability. All major components are backed by a four-year warranty.

Battery APUs

DClimate Lithium Pro is an eAPU powered by a LiFePO4 battery system that’s backed by a five-year warranty. An advanced BMS (battery management system) allows for rapid charging and longer battery life. Up to 6.7kWh of power is available per cycle, which is ample for hotel loads through an entire 10-hour rest period. A high-efficiency compressor and evaporator minimize fan electrical load, which helps conserve power for those longer runtimes.

Dragonfly’s Battle Born All-Electric APU is powered by a LiFePO4 battery system that’s backed by a 10-year warranty. It provides 6.9kWh of energy storage while maintaining 12V-plus for nearly the entire discharge cycle. That enables powering of HVAC and appliances through a full 10-hour rest period when fully charged. An efficient charging system recharges from 0-100% in under four hours of driving.

Polar Fox APU’s Elite Series is available in both 12V and 24V configurations. It is a complete system built around the unique Skana dual-purpose LiFePO4 battery system. These batteries possess the cold cranking amps necessary to start a truck, eliminating the need for a second set of starting batteries. The Skana battery system is backed by a five-year warranty.

Thermo King’s TriPac Envidia is an eAPU powered by Thermo King’s NXT battery, an AGM battery featuring dry cell technology for greater efficiency, longer life, and lower life cycle cost.