Holdsworth Foods has added three new trucks equipped with ECOOLTEC TM182 transport refrigeration units as part of its sustainability strategy. The British food wholesaler is the first UK operator to install the ECOOLTEC system on a 26-tonne vehicle, aiming to reduce emissions and improve long-term compliance with evolving refrigerant regulations.
Each truck features a multi-compartment box body by Solomon Commercials, with a moveable bulkhead and one ECOOLTEC TM182 refrigeration unit paired with two ECOOLTEC E1221 evaporators. The fleet includes two DAF XB 290s (18 tonnes) and one DAF XD 340 (26 tonnes). The vehicles will be used for trunking operations between the company’s ten distribution depots across England.
The ECOOLTEC system operates using natural refrigerants CO₂ (R744) and propene (R1270), with a GWP of 1 and 0 respectively. Each unit contains under 1.5 kg of CO₂ and 0.65 kg of propene per circuit, replacing the 6.8 kg of R452A (GWP 2,139) previously used. According to Compliance Director Millicent Holdsworth, the switch avoids approximately 14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions per vehicle.
Unlike conventional diesel-powered units, the ECOOLTEC TM182 runs fully electric—via an alternator, battery, or external power source—and produces no local CO₂ or pollutant emissions in battery mode. The system also features hermetic refrigerant circuits, which help minimise leakage compared to traditional systems that typically lose 15% of refrigerant annually.
“The ECOOLTEC units deliver on every level: an environmentally friendly, purely electric drive and refrigeration using exclusively natural refrigerants,” said Millicent Holdsworth. “Thanks to their negligible global warming potential, these systems are exceptionally climate-friendly and guarantee long-term economic operation. That’s crucial for us, as we typically operate our vehicles for ten years.”
