UK supermarket chain Tesco is trialling two engineless Carrier Transicold multi-temperature refrigeration units that run entirely on hydro-electric power generated by the trucks’ Euro VI engines.
According to Carrier Transicold, the trial is part of the supermarket retailer’s efforts to reduce its impact on the environment. These are the first two trucks fitted with alternative refrigeration technology to join Tesco’s fleet, which includes 450 rigids, 1,300 tractor units and 4,000 trailers.
“We are delighted to be one of the first customers trialling this new type of engineless refrigeration unit offering significant environmental benefits,” said Caroline Sindrey, Engineering Manager, Tesco.
“The new system offers huge potential to help us reduce our carbon footprint through lower emissions and diesel consumption as well as decreasing air and noise pollution. We also hope it will reduce maintenance and fuel costs across our fleet of vehicles in the long term.”
The systems remove the need for a separate diesel engine as they are driven by an Eco-Drive GenSet power unit, which is powered by a hydraulic pump connected to the truck’s engine power take-off. The hydraulic pump drives a generator that delivers electrical power to the refrigeration unit and provides a continual, 100 per cent refrigeration capacity even at the truck’s standard idle speed.
The refrigeration systems are mounted to Mercedes-Benz Antos rigid trucks and will reportedly be kept in the fleet for eight years, covering 35,000 miles annually.