IEP

What IEP does

IEP (INPS Environmental Products Inc.) is a London, Ontario-based supplier of locomotive idle-reduction and thermal-management hardware, operating as a privately held subsidiary of INPS Group Inc. with 11-50 employees. Its two flagship products are the Banana Locomotive Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) — the world's first commercially available locomotive APU, built around a US EPA Tier-4F CAT/Perkins 400 Series diesel engine producing 18.9 kW at 2,800 RPM with a 130A 72 VDC generator and CAN Bus-based automatic start/shutdown on coolant temperature and battery voltage — and the Orange Locomotive Air Conditioner, a 32,000 BTU direct-current split system with a 72 VDC brushless compressor that eliminates the inverter failure mode common to AC retrofits on DC locomotives.

The business model is a direct enterprise field-sales motion targeting rail operators, construction fleets, military transportation, and transport trucking customers across North America. IEP sells hardware units (each capable of saving fleets up to 20,000+ gallons of fuel and tens of thousands of dollars per year per locomotive), augmented by virtual installation assistance and telephone support, with customer financing available through Capitol Lease Financing. The company monetizes a regulatory asset — the first North American patented methodology to generate emissions reduction credits from a mobile source — and its EPA SmartWay Verified Technology status (RAPU2174) positions customers for National DERA Program grants.

IEP's competitive position rests on three proprietary anchors: the patent on the locomotive APU, the patent-pending Banana APU design, and the patented mobile-source emissions-credit methodology, supplemented by South Shore Clean Cities membership and decades of rail-industry presence inherited from INPS Group. Cumulative production is stated in the thousands of locomotive APUs and tens of thousands of truck APUs, with the Banana APU and Orange AC sold as a complementary idle-reduction and cab-comfort package engineered to work in harmony with the locomotive's native 72-volt power system.

Name

IEP

Legal name

INPS Environmental Products Inc.

Website

https://inps-ep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IEP designs and sells the patented Banana Locomotive APU and Orange DC Air Conditioner, providing idle-reduction and thermal-management hardware to North American rail operators and adjacent fleet customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Locomotive Auxiliary Power Systems

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (33361), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

AC-DC Power Supplies (Industrial PSUs, DIN-rail, enclosed/open-frame) (IMAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) MRO (TLAKAJAE)

Keywords

• Locomotive auxiliary power units
• Rail idle reduction systems
• Locomotive air conditioning
• Transportation thermal management
• Mobile emissions reduction technology

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Locomotive APU Sales: Sale of Banana Auxiliary Power Units to rail operators for locomotive idle reduction and fuel savings. Products include the Banana APU which generates fuel savings in the tens of thousands of dollars per year per unit.
2. Locomotive Air Conditioner Sales: Sale of Orange DC air conditioning systems for locomotives, providing cooling reliability with 32,000 BTU capacity and easy installation on new or existing locomotives.
3. Installation and Support Services: Virtual installation assistance and technical support services for product deployment, including telephone, email, and virtual support options.
4. Financing Services: Capitol Lease Financing offered for equipment purchases, enabling customers to acquire APU and AC systems through leasing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IEP manufactures and sells the Banana Locomotive Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and the Orange Locomotive Air Conditioner (DC AC system) for locomotive idle reduction, fuel savings, emissions reduction, and crew comfort. The Banana APU is the world's first commercially available locomotive APU, designed to work in harmony with the locomotive's 72V power system, while the Orange AC provides 32,000 BTU of Direct Current cooling without requiring an inverter. Both products are engineered for rail operators, construction fleets, military transportation, and transport truck applications.

Product overview

IEP offers a portfolio of locomotive idle reduction and climate control solutions, anchored by the Banana Locomotive APU for fuel savings and auxiliary power generation, and the Orange Locomotive Air Conditioner for cab cooling. Both products are engineered to work with the locomotive's 72-volt power system and are designed to fit virtually any locomotive configuration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Banana: Patent-pending locomotive auxiliary power unit (APU) that saves fuel and reduces engine wear without sacrificing crew comfort. Features 18.9 kW power output, US EPA Tier-4F CAT/Perkins 400 Series diesel engine, and 130A, 72 VDC generator.
• Orange

Products and services

• Banana Locomotive Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) An idle reduction system that allows locomotive engines to be safely shut down while maintaining crew comfort, heating, lighting, and battery charging. Powered by a US EPA Tier-4F CAT/Perkins 400 Series diesel engine with 18.9 kW output at 2,800 RPM, 130A 72 VDC generator, and CAN Bus Communication. Features automatic start/shutdown based on coolant temperature and battery voltage, compact dimensions (32x17x37 inches, 690 lbs), and EPA SmartWay Verified Technology (Verification ID: RAPU2174). Designed for rail operators, military transportation, and transport truck fleets to save up to 20,000+ gallons of fuel per year per unit.
• Orange Locomotive Air Conditioner A 32,000 BTU Direct Current air conditioning system designed for locomotive cabs, eliminating the inverter failures common with AC systems that invert from DC locomotive power. Features a flexible modular heavy-duty construction with separable evaporator (9 kW), condenser (12 kW), and brushless 10,000-hour motor compressor components. Uses non-ozone-depleting R134A refrigerant (optional R-1234YF Low GWP) and operates directly on 72V locomotive power. Approximate kit weight 136 kg (300 lbs), designed for low head-clearance installations on new or existing locomotives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save up to 20,000 gallons of fuel or more per year per APU unit
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INPS Group Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEP is an integral member company of INPS Group Inc., drawing upon decades of rail industry presence and real-world rail and industrial experience from the group of companies. IEP enhances the group's rail industry presence with environmental and economic sustainability solutions.
• South Shore Clean CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEP is a proud member of South Shore Clean Cities, an organization supporting clean transportation and alternative fuel initiatives in the region.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEP's Banana APU is EPA SmartWay Verified Technology (RAPU2174), meeting EPA standards for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. Customers may also be eligible for grants through the National DERA Program.
• EPA SmartWay ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerification through EPA SmartWay Program provides third-party validation of the Banana APU's environmental performance and fuel efficiency credentials.
• CAT/Perkins (Engine Supplier)coreTechnology or IntegrationIEP utilizes US EPA Tier-4F CAT/Perkins 400 Series diesel engine (governed at 2,800 RPM) in the Banana APU, indicating an engine supply partnership for core product functionality.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Cummins Inc. Cummins supplies diesel and alternative-fuel engines for rail, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications. It is both a potential engine supplier and a category peer for prime-mover-based power systems that compete with IEP's diesel APU platform.

Direct peers

• Dometic Group: Dometic makes mobile HVAC, refrigeration, and climate-control products for trucks, RVs, and marine applications. Its transport-truck AC portfolio competes with IEP's Orange DC air conditioner in adjacent vehicle markets.
• Carrier Transicold: Carrier Transicold designs and manufactures transport refrigeration and idle-reduction solutions for trucks, trailers, rail, and intermodal containers. It competes head-to-head with IEP for transport climate-control and auxiliary power specification wins.
• Thermo King (Trane Technologies): Thermo King is the leading transport refrigeration and HVAC provider for trucks, trailers, rail, and marine applications. Its rail and intermodal product lines directly overlap with IEP's locomotive climate-control business (Orange AC).
• Eberspächer: Eberspächer manufactures fuel-operated heaters and climate-control systems for commercial vehicles and rail applications. Its heater and APU portfolio overlaps directly with IEP's locomotive thermal-management products.
• Bergstrom Inc. Bergstrom produces battery-powered and diesel APU systems for truck cabs, focused on idle reduction and emissions reduction. It competes with IEP in the transport truck APU segment that IEP explicitly serves.
• Phillips & Temro Industries (Proheat): Phillips & Temro, owner of the Proheat brand, makes engine heaters, APUs, and idle-reduction systems for heavy-duty trucks, rail, and industrial equipment. It is a direct peer to IEP in locomotive and truck thermal management.
• Webasto: Webasto manufactures auxiliary power units, fuel-operated heaters, and HVAC systems for commercial vehicles, including trucks and specialty mobility platforms. It is a direct peer to IEP across the APU and mobile climate-control product categories that IEP serves with the Banana APU and Orange AC.

Broad incumbents

• Wabtec Corporation: Wabtec is a global rail OEM and aftermarket supplier of locomotives, components, and digital solutions. Its locomotive and freight rail portfolio dwarfs IEP's niche but overlaps on auxiliary equipment supplied to Class I railroads.

Emerging players

• Hotstart (CL Industrial Holdings): Hotstart manufactures engine and equipment heating systems for locomotives, marine, and industrial engines. Its rail thermal-management focus makes it an emerging adjacent player to IEP's locomotive climate and idle-reduction portfolio.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iep-inps-environmental-products-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IEP