The term "Webasto" in most cases is used in relation to engine preheaters. However, in fact, this is the name of a company that produces, in addition to such heaters, many other products.
For a person who is far from repairing vehicles, the term "Webasto" is probably associated, first of all, with the hatches on the ceiling of the Ikarus-280 bus. Each of them has a sticker: "Webasto License". It was this company that developed one of the hatch designs that can be used both for ventilation and for exiting in an emergency. In the first case, it must be lifted, and in the second, it will be necessary to pull out the seal, after which it can be pushed out completely. Bus manufacturer Ikarus acquired a license from Webasto to manufacture such hatches at its own production facilities. Other bus and trolleybus manufacturers use their own hatch designs that do not require such a license.
For car enthusiasts, car service workers, Webasto is better known as a manufacturer of preheaters for internal combustion engines. In cold weather, such an engine is difficult to start, moreover, its start is accompanied by a lot of wear. Despite the fact that the heater consumes fuel, due to the fact that the engine is warmed up by the time of starting, this consumption pays off with additional savings. In addition, preheating makes it possible to start a trip immediately after starting, without waiting for the engine to reach the optimum temperature for operation. It should be noted that this heating method is not the only one. Other companies produce pre-heaters operating on different principles. Some just periodically make the engine idle to keep it cool, while others use electricity, which is even available in some unheated garages.
The third, less well-known type of Webasto products are air conditioners for various vehicles. They are used in cars, trucks, buses. Basically, among them, there are devices that can only cool, but not heat, the air of the cabin and body.
