Thermo King Introduces E-COOLPAC Battery Solutions for Truck, Trailer and Marine Container Refrigeration Units

Zero direct emission and platform independent battery power technology to electrify refrigerated trucks and trailers and offer a sustainable genset solution for refrigerated marine containers.

Brussels, Sept. 9, 2024 –Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, announced today the new E-COOLPAC battery solutions. The project results from a partnership between Thermo King and AKSA (AKSA Würenlos AG), a Swiss developer and manufacturer of energy systems that tested and manufactured the batteries.

The E-COOLPAC is a zero direct emission battery power technology allowing customers to electrify their refrigerated trucks and trailers and use as a battery genset solution for refrigerated marine containers. The E-COOLPAC offers a range of battery modules, as well as extension packs to deliver power ranging from 15kWh to 105kWh. E-COOLPAC batteries can be fitted or retrofitted to hybrid, LNG, electric or diesel-powered trucks, trailers and marine container chassis, where a genset can currently fit.

The battery packs are compatible with nose-mount and under-mount truck and trailer refrigeration units including Thermo King self-powered, vehicle-powered and selected Frigoblock solutions. E-COOLPAC is also compatible with Thermo King marine refrigeration units including CFF and Magnum Plus, as well as other brands of ISO1496-2 reefer units.

“Together with AKSA we combined decades of industry insights and expertise and created highly efficient, reliable and flexible solutions to electrify transport refrigeration,” said Eneko Fernandez truck product leader at Thermo King. “Our focus was to deliver a product offering robustness and quality tested and validated against strict standards. With E-COOLPAC, our customers can upgrade their truck, trailer and container fleet to comply with ultra-low and zero emission zones, diesel ban areas, and low noise (PIEK) areas. The modularity of the design also future-proofs customer’s investment, giving them the peace of mind that they can extend their battery range at any time should their needs change.”

The compact dimensions of the E-COOLPAC include all power electronics, controls, and battery modules inside the same pack, whether it is the 15 kWh, 20 kWh, 25 kWh, or 35 kWh model. All units feature the same robust external enclosure and share component modularity. The base unit can be coupled with plug-and-play battery extension modules at any time. Battery extension modules deliver either an additional 35 kWh or 70 kWh on top of your base of 35 kWh, boosting power to 70 kWh or a maximum of 105 kWh. Battery extension modules only contain the battery cells and a battery management system (BMS) as they use the base unit’s controls and power electronics.

“Transporters of refrigerated marine containers running port to distribution center operations or daily reefer container transport, can use E-COOLPAC as an alternative for diesel gensets to reduce their emissions and comply with local regulations,” said Peter Hansen senior product manager for Thermo King Global Marine, Rail and Bus. “The E-COOLPAC provides a power source for reefers when they are not connected to grid- or vessel-power and fits on both an EU flexi chassis and an EU skeleton chassis (either side-mount or center-mount).”

To empower customers to monitor their assets and optimize operations, E-COOLPAC uses a telematic system allowing them to view and analyze real time and historical data on vehicle location, operation of the E-COOLPAC unit, battery state-of-charge and more.  Drivers can also monitor and control the unit with an intuitive control panel, enabling the driver to check the battery status, limit the charging current, change the operating frequency between 50Hz and 60Hz, and receive operating alarms.

The battery packs can be charged via standard commercial/light industrial power grids or type 2 / type 3 electric vehicle (EV) charging station.

Providing electric solutions for refrigerated transportation is part of Thermo King’s and Trane Technologies’ overall approach to reducing carbon emissions. It aligns with the company’s bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons.

For more information on Thermo King solutions please visit www.europe.thermoking.com.