Ever seen a big V8 or V10 diesel idling? Likely using a lot more than .5 gph. Also - it would be the difference between regular idle rate and fuel this device uses, not just regular idle rate.

However, that said, also factor in wear on the vehicle for keeping it running for so long - added savings - longevity in the motor.

Electric would be fine just for being at home, not useful most other places for most people.

Yes, I have one. I looked at them a few years ago when I was looking at using my E350 as an expediter vehicle. It would be a lot cheaper to get a small generator and run both a block heater and a small space heater.

Cheaper yes, but certainly not more fuel efficient. The Webasto uses about .05 gallons an hour, you would be lucky to find a genset that uses less then .5 gallon and hour running an engine heater and cabin heater. Also these are quiet and have timers, remotes and all sorts of controls. I know a bunch of TDI'ers did a group buy and got them for about $1200 for the base unit and like $200 for the controller.

I just run a 1000w electric coolant heater myself, unfortunately I can't plug in here at work and we have had about 20 -10F (-23C) days this winter, to darn cold. I have heated seats but still bought a heated jacket and gloves (gerbing).

There was a test on cars in winter in a recent Tekniikan Maailma magazine in Finland. They found out that Webasto uses about 0.5l/hour and that the fuel consumption was less in a heated engine.. So after about 2.5miles of driving a car that was heated with Webasto started to save fuel.. This was done in 18F degree (-7C) temperature..
I also have a block heater but you cannot use a block heater many places.
I like the idea that when I buy a used car with Webasto I can safely assume that it was not subjected to nearly as many cold starts as a car with?ut a Webasto..

check this out too https://www.parkingheater.com/en-int/...dvantages.html

Actually, treated right, they are lasting a lonnnnng time these days. I've got a 200,000 mile Escort motor open at the moment, no bore wear. Usually they're rusting out first. However, I notice some auto industry types getting worried about this lasting too long, especially since salt on the roads is now seen as bad and they can't rely on them rusting out before they wear out. So some industry stooge was trying to put the wind up eco-minded politicians by claiming 10 year old cars pump out 50x more pollution than new cars... i.e. please order older cars off the road with draconian laws so we sell more. So I checked it out, it appears my '88 Voyager, the oldest year vehicles we have in the emissions testing program here, 20 years old not 10, is "allowed" only a max of twice what a new honda civic is allowed... and my typical e-test results are at 10-30% of the allowance when it's running good. So look out for this complete BS and shoot it down with facts if it happens near you.

As far as emissions are concerned.. think about how much emissions and material cost when you build a NEW car.. much more than using an older car longer.. I think building a new car will produce more emissions while being built than during the rest?of its lifetime..

In other words Webasto will start saving fuel after the car has been driven for more than 2.5 miles..