[IMAGE]Wright-Streetcar-RTV.jpg[/IMAGE] Carrier unveiled its new air-conditioning products for the North American market, including the AvantAC all-electric system, and the latest enhancement to its AC353 inline rooftop bus system, at the APTA Expo on Tuesday.

The AC353 is available in 24-kilowatt (kW) and 35 kW capacities to cover most climate zones from moderate to extreme conditions. It uses Carrier’s micro-channel heat exchanger coil technology, which delivers performance improvements through better heat transfer and thermal performance.  

The AvantAC system uses aircraft power generation and management technology from Hamilton Sundstrand, and features multiple, electrically driven, self-contained plug-and-play modules installed on the vehicle roof. It also employs a belt-driven generator to produce electric power independent of engine speed, rather than using the conventional system of a vehicle engine driving a large refrigeration compressor.  

Additionally, Carrier also unveiled its AvantAC system on the new Wright Group Streetcar Rapid Transit Vehicle, which is also equipped with ISE Corp.’s hybrid-electric drive system. The vehicle will begin operating in Las Vegas soon.