Abstract: An apparatus for preconditioning a cabin of a non-electric vehicle uses power supplied from a source that is external to the vehicle, such as an electrical utility power grid. The non-electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a battery, and an electric machine drive unit that supplies electrical energy to the battery when driven by the internal combustion engine. A mechanically operated preconditioning device is provided that can be driven by the engine when the internal combustion engine is operating and that can be driven by the electric machine drive unit when the internal combustion engine is not operating. An AC/DC converter is adapted to receive electrical energy from an external source and to supply such electrical energy through the battery to power the electric machine drive unit to drive the mechanically operated preconditioning device when the internal combustion engine is not operating.