Logistics Group Carreras Successfully Decreases Transport Emissions and Fuel Consumption with Thermo King Electric Self-Charging Trailer Cooling System

Refrigerated trailer operated for almost 55,000 km in fully electric mode, enabled by innovative Advancer hybrid trailer refrigeration and AxlePower energy recovery systems from Thermo King.

Brussels, October 15, 2024 – Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, announced today that Spanish logistics group Carreras has successfully completed trials of a new refrigerated semi-trailer with Thermo King’s self-charging electric refrigeration system for trailers. Since January, and covering a distance of approximately 55,000 km, the refrigeration system has operated 100% in electric mode while on the road. To reduce the tractor’s and trailer’s emissions footprint even more, Carreras operates on biofuel, which lowers the total emissions by 90% according to the company. The trailer currently continues to operate in Carreras’ fleet across Europe.

The system leverages Thermo King Advancer hybrid refrigeration unit and AxlePower dynamic energy recovery system, including the ENERG-e battery pack. Thermo King’s AxlePower technology dynamically recovers energy while rolling and braking and stores it in the battery pack, which in turn powers the trailer refrigeration unit.

Together with Thermo King’s proprietary smart power management, the system dynamically monitors road conditions and driving operations to maximise kinetic and thermal energy recovered by the trailer’s e-axle. The smart power management automatically switches between recuperation mode (energy recovery), passive mode (sufficient battery charge) and active mode (additional charging current when required) to ensure optimum charging efficiency and without driver intervention. Fleet managers can see real-time battery charge and performance to avoid ‘range or charge anxiety’.

Unlike other axle generators, the sophisticated control system will also disengage the e-axle when the trailer is on an uphill, avoiding energy penalties and reducing fuel consumption. All in all, the Thermo King system minimises the need for charging, therefore increasing uptime while reducing operating costs and direct carbon emissions.

“This project and collaboration with Thermo King and its dealer Frigicoll mark a significant stride for Carreras in embracing sustainable logistics. Through the integration of the new technology, we managed to deliver tangible, efficient, and direct enhancements to our operations,” said Héctor Benito Serón, director of projects, consulting, sustainability and innovation at Carreras. “We are proud of our unwavering commitment to decarbonization and process improvement, ensuring the highest quality services for our customers. This project brings us another step closer to our ultimate goal of a 50% reduction in carbon footprint.”

“The ability to harness and generate energy directly from the trailers’ movement makes this technology a sustainable solution for diverse transportation needs,” said Francisco Cambra Soriano, area sales manager at Thermo King. “At a time when consumer demands increasingly prioritise sustainability, low or zero emission and resource-saving supply chains are becoming an important selling point. Carreras utilising the self-charging AxlePower solution, will secure long-term competitive advantages and establish themselves as frontrunners in sustainable practices.”

Thermo King’s AxlePower technology is a result of a collaboration between Thermo King and BPW Bergische Achsen KG, a leader in running gears and mobility services for transport. AxlePower enables electric cooling that is self-charging when on the road. It is a fully integrated, tractor independent system that combines BPW’s ePower axle with a Thermo King ENERG-e battery pack and smart power management technology. The AxlePower’s smart energy generating system delivers the power needed to run the trailer refrigeration unit by converting energy recovered by the trailer’s axle during the vehicle’s routine operation.

The possibility to capture and reuse energy makes the Advancer hybrid or full-electric refrigeration unit in combination with AxlePower technology an ideal solution to future-proof and increase the sustainability of all types of trailer journeys. With silent running and no CO₂ emissions from the refrigeration unit when operating from the battery-pack, this technology allows customers to sustainably run long-haul and inner-city deliveries, including in Ultra-low Emission Zones (ULEZs) and low noise urban areas.

For more information, please visit www.europe.thermoking.com.