Shaftesbury-based BV Dairy has taken delivery of two new Carrier Transicold Supra 850 units and, in a first for the company, has specified each with the ECO-DRIVE power module. This module enables the units to either run on their own diesel engines or via electric power derived from the truck engine’s power take-off; a hybrid configuration aimed at improving the sustainability of its fleet.
The two Supra 850 units – fitted to Solomon insulated bodies on 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Antos chassis and supplied on a contract hire agreement from Ryder – will replace older, purely diesel-driven Supra 750 units. The powerful Supra 850 units provide constant airflow, rapid pull-down speeds and accurate set point control on either power configuration, with the flexibility to offer BV Dairy a way of cutting both fuel usage and engine emissions.
“With tightening emissions restrictions continually coming into force, we wanted to introduce new technology into our fleet that would help us to lower our carbon footprint – without losing any performance,” said Charis Lewis, logistics and distribution manager, BV Dairy.
“These two new vehicles primarily operate on multi-drop routes in London, so it seemed the ideal opportunity to introduce the hybrid power of Carrier Transicold’s ECO-DRIVE system. This provides us with an engineless transport refrigeration solution for our inner-city deliveries; it’s proving to be a simple and very effective solution for reducing our CO2 output.”
Carrier Transicold’s ECO-DRIVE system uses a hydraulic pump connected to the truck engine’s power take-off. This drives a generator that delivers electrical power to the Supra 850 unit, which can provide refrigeration capacity even at the truck’s standard idle speed.
The hybrid flexibility of the new set-up means when vehicles have to stop for extended periods of time, BV Dairy can switch back to the Supra 850 unit’s standalone diesel power to maintain the set point, without the need to keep the truck engine running. The ECO-DRIVE system also allows the units to be powered directly from the main grid where an electric connection is available, helping to make further savings on fuel.
BV Dairy will monitor the new additions to assess fuel consumption and emissions reductions, with the potential to introduce more electric-powered Carrier Transicold equipment into its fleet.
Operating out of the company’s Shaftesbury depot, the new units will deliver to food service chains and wholesalers, clocking approximately 70,000 miles a year. They will remain in the fleet for five years and are covered by Carrier Transicold’s comprehensive everCOLD full-service repair and maintenance package, which includes annual temperature control testing and certification, full regulatory checks and access to Carrier Transicold’s Europe-wide oneCALL 24/7 incident management service.
Established in 1958, BV Dairy is a third-generation, family-run business. It is one of the most successful, independent dairies in South West England.
