TIP recently launched a 12-month trial in the United Kingdom of a zero-emission, battery and solar-powered transport refrigeration unit (TRU) fitted to one of its reefer trailers.
Named ‘Endurance’ and designed and manufactured by Sunswap, the UK-based ‘clean-tech’ business, this concept features solar panels fitted to the roof of the trailer which, in combination with a first-of-its-kind modular battery and highly energy-efficient system, provides an emission free solution to power the trailer’s refrigeration unit.
While the TRU is ‘trailer agnostic,’ it is fitted to a Chereau manufactured reefer that has had its specification optimized for efficiency, courtesy of Chereau UK distributor Reefer Trailer Centre, in order to enhance the performance of the unique TRU technology. Adaptations include the installation of vacuum insulation panels (VIP), the use of HFO Foam and of half-width sliding bulkheads, for temperature-controlling a smaller area when transporting a partial load. A switch is also fitted to the rear door which turns off the evaporator when the door is opened so that energy is not lost, whilst a solid front evaporator protector prevents any waste or product getting into it, thus limiting its functionality.
The trailer will operate as part of the fleet of a TIP customer on UK roads over a significant period, with the objective being to establish that the zero emission TRU functions at least as effectively as if powered by diesel, without detriment to the transport operation it is assigned to. That includes no incremental operational ‘downtime’ being needed for re-charging purposes.
The TRU is connected to the cloud and capable of collecting thousands of data points in real-time to ensure fridge components are kept within optimized operating parameters to maximize performance and efficiency.
“We are always looking for solutions that allow our customers a clear path to decarbonisation of their transport operation, and we anticipate a successful trial of the Sunswap TRU system to contribute towards that. We are looking forward to monitoring the results,” Mike Furnival, TIP managing director, said.
The trailer is predicted to demonstrate that around 80% of the refrigeration unit’s power requirement can be drawn from the solar panels and that the trailer can be used as part of the normal transport operation with no loss of efficiency, while producing zero tailpipe emission, noted Alastair Gough, head of business development at Sunswap.
“Our experiences to date have indicated that the system can be operated at between 10 and 20% of the cost of diesel units,” Gough said.