THT New Cool B.V. has become the first rental company in Europe to supply customers with trailers featuring the new Carrier Transicold Vector eCool, the first fully autonomous all-electric refrigerated trailer system to enter serial production. The two companies joined forces to develop the product, which is billed as a game-changer for the industry and marks a major step forward in cold chain sustainability.
The Vector eCool project began in 2010, with several companies collaborating on the development of a new autonomous trailer solution. The collaboration included TRS Transportkoeling B.V., which later became a Carrier Transicold company, and THT New Cool B.V., a Dutch rental company with a strong focus on all-electric trailer systems.
“When it comes to innovation, our ultimate goal is to develop solutions that matter for people and the planet, a value we share with THT New Cool,” said Victor Calvo, President, Carrier Transicold International Truck & Trailer. “I thank THT New Cool for its contribution to this ground-breaking project. As a business, it has worked hard with us to make the Vector eCool a reality, ensuring our mutual customers can benefit from this new technology today.”
With a major focus on developing refrigerated trailers equipped with advanced electrical systems, THT New Cool B.V. was ideally positioned to play an important role in the project. Trailers equipped with Vector eCool refrigeration units are now available on a rental basis through THT New Cool B.V., plus the refrigeration units can be purchased directly from Carrier Transicold.
“At THT New Cool we have been committed to developing sustainable transport solutions for 15 years, most notably in finding ways to minimise emissions from refrigerated trailers,” said Twan Heetkamp, Director, THT New Cool B.V. “We have always believed in electrical energy sources and are thrilled our collaboration with Carrier Transicold has meant we can offer our customers a truly zero-emission refrigerated trailer.”
More than 50 trailers equipped with Vector eCool units took part in extensive testing prior to the new technology entering serial production, clocking thousands of hours in single and multi-temperature customer applications. Suitable for operation with the engineless versions of Carrier Transicold’s Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, the Vector eCool combines the company’s E-Drive all-electric technology with a new cutting-edge energy recovery and storage system. This converts kinetic energy generated by the trailer into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack to power the refrigeration unit. This loop creates a fully autonomous system that produces no direct carbon dioxide (CO2) or particulate emissions.
The Vector eCool is also PIEK-compliant, meaning when used with City versions of the Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, the operating noise of the system is below 60 dB(A). Combined with its emissions performance, the Vector eCool provides the ultimate solution to tightening inner-city and urban regulations.