But I will loose my free place !???Starting and leaving a diesel engine ticking over from cold it will never obtain full operating temperature or take a very long time, not only will it cause bore glazing but will also wreck the CAT & DPF. Can't remember who it was now but one Funster found out just how expensive it was.
Ice cream van is not idling from cold, it's been driven to the parking spot and the engine is up to temperature.
So if you want to leave your engine idling to charge the battery take the van for a 20 mile drive first.