Thermo King Introduces Clean-Energy Refrigerant Options
Thermo King, a provider of transport temperature-control solutions, showcased its latest clean energy cooling systems at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany, including several refrigeration units, a discharge evaporator and new solar panels.
The company brought its vision of a futuristic city to IAA with a theme called “Thermotopia.”
E-200 full-electric refrigeration unit. (Thermo King)
“Thermotopia is where visitors can discover the technologies that will define the future of not only transport temperature control but transport altogether,” Pauli Johannesen, vice president and general manager for truck, trailer and bus at Thermo King in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a press release.
Among the new models unveiled was the E-200, a full-electric refrigeration unit for electric and engine-powered vans and trucks below 3½ tons. It functions independently of the vehicle and incorporates several components that are somewhat unusual in the refrigerated transport industry, such as a controller that can alter the capacity based on actual need and manage multiple power sources at the same time. Thermo King partnered with Petit Forestier, a European refrigeration rental company, to showcase an all-electric, zero-emission, noiseless refrigerated van at IAA.
“It is important for us to ensure that our customers can rely on us to provide zero-emission means of transport refrigeration to make their urban operations more eco-friendly and stay ahead of urban transport regulations,” Petit Forestier CEO Géraldine Forestier de Cespedes, said in a news release. “Working with partners who are committed to sustainable development is one of our fundamental requirements. Thermo King helped us to create a highly efficient, reliable and eco-friendly solution, which is in line with our goal to be at the forefront of the greener and cleaner and more sustainable transportation in our cities.”
Northgate and Thermo King teamed to create a zero-emission, noiseless refrigerated van using the B-100 ECO. (Thermo King)
In the realm of refrigeration units, Thermo King also presented its B-100 ECO, developed to meet the low-energy consumption required by small electric vehicles. It partnered with European commercial vehicle rental company Northgate to create a zero-emission, noiseless refrigerated van and test it in an operational environment.
Additionally, Thermo King’s SLXi trailer refrigeration unit line now features a quieter, lower emission engine, and its self-powered T-560R refrigeration unit now boasts a 20% increase in fresh and frozen capacity, compared with the previous model, as well as a 5% reduction in fuel consumption. The upgraded Prisma S-4.2 low-height dual discharge evaporator for the T-Series and SLXi refrigeration units has a lower profile and improved zone flexibility, which helps to maximize payload volume and makes for easier loading and unloading.
An SLXi trailer refrigeration unit. (Thermo King)
The company also has introduced new 24-volt ThermoLite solar panel charge controller, available in both 40-watt and 110-watt options. Previously, the company offered 12-volt kits for reefer applications.
These clean energy technologies are in line with the Ingersoll Rand — Thermo King’s parent company — climate commitment from 2014. The commitment includes: a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas-emissions footprint from refrigerant products by 2020, a $500 million investment in product-related research and development to fund long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction, and a 35% reduction in the greenhouse gas footprint of its own operations by 2020.
