ECOOLTEC is a leader in the move to improve sustainability in temperaturecontrolled
transport and currently delivers the only transport refrigeration units
suitable for HGV operation that do not use high-polluting auxiliary diesel
engines or F-gas refrigerants. The first two TM182 units that Tesco purchased
have been operating since last year had to prove their efficiency and
sustainability during demanding multi-drop practical tests. Tesco are impressed
both with the quality of the temperature control as well as the low
environmental impact of the ECOOLTEC technology and has ordered five more
trucks with TM182s.
Tesco carried out several multiple-drop, on-road tests, during which the ECOOLTEC
units proved that they are capable of reliably delivering frozen and chilled goods at
the specified temperatures.
“We’re working towards our goal to reach carbon neutrality across our own
operations by 2035 and net zero across our value chain by 2050″, said Cliff Smith,
Fleet Engineering Manager, Tesco. “The two ECOOLTEC vehicles we’ve been using have performed successfully and we’re looking forward to introducing another five to
our fleet.”
The only unit that uses natural refrigerants exclusively
Since F-gases, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), contribute significantly to
greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, the European Parliament has issued the
regulation 2024/573 that initially restrict their use step by step (phase-down) and
even rule them out by 2050. The UK are due to bring in similar regulations. The
current phase-out will jeopardise the operational longevity of conventional transport
refrigeration systems.
The TM182 only needs 650 grammes of propene in each
external circuit and around one kilogramme of CO2 per internal cooling circuit,
resulting in four independent and fully hermetic refrigeration circuits with reduced
impact gases.
The innovative ECOOLTEC technology allows ECOOLTEC engineers to watch the
system over-the-air without an on-site service technician needing to identify any
potential fault. “Tesco’s on-road tests and follow-up order confirm our performance
promises. We would like to thank them for their trust”, explains ECOOLTEC-CEO
Henning Altebäumer.
Natural refrigerants: negligible climate impact, high efficiency
The technological highlight of the ECOOLTEC technology is the use of sustainable
refrigerants. Instead of the fluorinated refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons) R452A and
R410A, which are predominantly used in transport refrigeration and have GWP
(Global Warming Potential) values of approximately 2,000; ECOOLTEC relies on
natural refrigerants with GWP values of 3 and 1 respectively.
Hydrocarbons are also characterised by the high energy efficiency of the refrigeration
process, meaning that ECOOLTEC refrigeration systems have an enormous
refrigeration capacity in terms of size and weight to meet the extreme temperature
safety demands in food distribution. As a result, the ECOOLTEC refrigeration system requires 60 per cent less fuel and causes 80 per cent less CO2 emissions than a
conventional system with the same cooling capacity powered by a stand-alone diesel
engine. Natural refrigerants also offer permanent availability at a competitive price.
