German logistics company, Zippel Fresh, has successfully completed a six-month trial of e-reefer technology with a trio of partners, headed by TIP Group.
The innovative e-reefer trial was conducted with TIP, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport Europe GmbH and SolarEdge e-Mobility, which saw a trailer powered with three energy sources – solar panels, battery storage, and brake energy recuperation.
The trial resulted in Zippel Fresh saving approximately 500 litres of diesel every month.
Zippel Fresh sought to maintain an unbroken cold chain for its perishable cargo, while evaluating whether the multi-energy reefer technology could deliver both operational and financial benefits.
“The use of the e-reefer shows that sustainable technologies can be integrated into everyday life without compromising safety and reliability,” Zippel Fresh Branch Manager, Dane Scheumann, said.
“There were no problems operating the electric refrigerated trailer safely and efficiently.”
After six months of real-world operation, Zippel Fresh achieved:
- 500 litres of diesel savings monthly compared to conventional units.
- No cold chain interruptions across all transports.
- Reduced brake (pad and disc) maintenance costs through energy recuperation.
- Seamless operation even at -28°C temperatures.
- Positive customer reactions and enhanced brand positioning.
The Zippel Fresh team put the system through rigorous stress testing at temperatures as low as -28°C, including weekend standstills and long-distance trips on their 200-kilometre meat transport routes.
The fitted solar panels charged the system during daytime parking, while energy recuperation occurs during travel.
The trial revealed that when battery levels dropped below predetermined thresholds, the system automatically activates its recuperation generator.
“The various components interact in such a way that cooling is always guaranteed. There were no interruptions in the cold chain, and all transport went smoothly,” said Scheumann.
“There were no interruptions in the cold chain, and all transport went smoothly.
“The use of the e-reefer shows that sustainable technologies can be integrated into everyday life without compromising safety and reliability”.
Trained and untrained drivers were used during the trial to evaluate system complexity. “Even without prior instruction, there were no problems operating the electric refrigerated trailer safely and efficiently,” said Scheumann.
The dashboard provided real-time battery performance data for the drivers, while telematics automatically reported any issues, features that highlighted the difference with conventional diesel units.
Service responsiveness during the trial was crucial for fleet adoption, with operators needing assurance that technical issues won’t disrupt customer commitments.
When Zippel Fresh reported an afternoon malfunction, SolarEdge deployed a technician who arrived the following morning.
“Honestly, I have never experienced such good service in this form,” Scheumann said. This
The trial also reaped beneficial brand recognition for Zippel Fresh.
“We often experience astonished looks when we drive onto the customer’s premises with the solar trailer, and that fills our entire team with pride,” said Scheumann.
TIP’s rental model has enabled Zippel Fresh to integrate the e-reefer into its operations without risk, while gaining practical experience and an opportunity to validate the technology’s performance in operating conditions before making larger fleet commitments.
Read more about TIP’s innovative approach to the European trailer sector.
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