Brakes Trials New Zero-Emission Trucks with Frigoblock Electric Refrigeration

Frigoblock announced that Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice provider and a Sysco company, started deliveries with two temperature-controlled electric 19-tonne Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) featuring Frigoblock EK25 and FK2 refrigeration units. The Electra truck with EK25 unit has been serving customers in the Midlands since late 2022, while the electric DAF LF truck featuring the Frigoblock FK2 unit started operations from Brake’s Reading depot near London in January 2023. 

The project continues successful, over 15 years long collaboration, between Brakes and Frigoblock and Thermo King.  It has been essential for Brakes’ primary fleet and its multi-drop operation that the refrigeration units maintain the cold chain working in conjunction with the vehicle and have zero direct exhaust emissions. The Frigoblock EK25 has proven itself to be able to meet these challenges. Coupled with the inverter Enviro Drive technology, the unit provides maximum efficiency and minimal impact to the vehicle’s fuel or power consumption. These capabilities made the Frigoblock EK25 as the primary refrigeration technology Brakes considered for their new BEVs.

The new Electra 19-tonne electric rigid truck has been operating in the Midlands since August 2022 and its performance has been evaluated by Brakes day-by-day. The trials proved that the performance in terms of temperature recovery by the Frigoblock EK25 has been even better than when refrigerating a traditional, diesel-powered vehicle. 

The second electric vehicle, the DAF LF truck is equipped with the next generation Frigoblock FK2 unit featuring new design and integrated telematics thanks to the Thermo King BlueBox. The connectivity provides the fleet operator with full, 24/7 visibility of the unit’s operation, remote monitoring, and proactive control, allowing Brakes to track their unit’s operation at any time, and clearly demonstrate the temperature set points across every journey.

The Brakes electric DAF vehicle operates since January 2023 from the company’s site in Reading known for its solar panel system installation. The system provides the location with its own source of renewable energy and emission-free power for the depot’s vehicle charging stations. Both new Brakes vehicles support Sysco’s ambitious climate goal to reduce emissions across its global operations and the company’s entire value chain.