California-based commercial electric trailer outfitter, Range Energy, has expanded its collaboration with Thermo King to enhance the commercialisation of electric refrigerated trailers.
The companies’ collaborative endeavours started in May 2024, when Thermo King’s electric and hybrid trailer refrigeration units (TRUs) were integrated with Range Energy’s eTrailer system.
Range Energy accelerates the electrification of commercial transportation by converting diesel trucks and trailers to hybrid electric vehicles, enabling fleets to transition to electric transportation with no operational disruption.
Thermo King, part of Trane Technologies, is renowned as a leader in the field of sustainable transport temperature control solutions and the underlying goal of this collaboration was to reduce diesel fuel consumption.
The next phase of the parties’ relationship sees them broaden their efforts to establish a comprehensive go-to-market strategy that includes joint sales, distribution, installation and service initiatives.
Initially, they will collaborate on sales and marketing efforts, utilising Thermo King’s extensive dealer network to reach a broader customer base to showcase electric refrigerated trailers.
The collaboration will also support installation and integration of Range systems onto customer trailers and work to provide seamless compatibility with Thermo King TRUs across the Americas.
“This expanded collaboration marks a significant step toward a more sustainable transportation future,” said Thermo King Americas Vice President of Product Management, Chris Tanaka.
“By aligning on critical elements for commercialisation, we are reinforcing our commitment to electrifying the transport refrigeration industry.”
Range Energy CEO, Jon Foster, said: “The success of our joint work to support customer trials laid the foundation for this next phase of commercialisation, and we’re excited to bring our game-changing, driver-friendly, and cost-effective product to the trucking industry.”
To further support customers, the dealer network will also provide regular maintenance for Range Energy systems to ensure reliable service throughout the lifecycle of the electric trailers.
The Thermo King collaboration is the latest in Range Energy‘s initiatives to scale up its eTrailer system in hybrid vehicles.
In February this year, Range announced a partnership with global technology supplier, ZF, to help drive the development and adoption of its eTrailer system within the North American commercial trucking industry.
As part of that collaboration ZF’s AxTrax 2 e-axle was integrated into Range’s eTrailer system to address greater efficiency, emissions reductions and range extension.
In related news, Trane Technologies has expanded in the UK.
