Warrington, UK: The first of a new configuration of light commercial vehicle designed for carrying scientific water samples has entered operation with Essex & Suffolk Water.
The vehicle is based upon a Fiat Doblo cab with a lightweight, copolymer polypropylene plastic body and an innovative refrigeration solution using Carrier Transicold’s Neos 100S unit. C
The Neos 100S unit is the right fit for this innovative new bodywork design says Vehicle Lease & Service, the leasing arm of Northumbrian Water Group, which owns Essex & Suffolk Water.
Essex & Suffolk Water is using a Fiat Doblo mounted with a lightweight copolymer polypropylene plastic body and an innovative refrigeration solution using Carrier Transicold’s NEOS 100S unit. Photo by John Gillender Photography
Dave Foster, fleet engineer, Vehicle Lease & Service says: “We wanted to construct the body for this new vehicle out of copolymer polypropylene, but I was told refrigerating a plastic body wouldn’t be possible without a vast amount of condensation being generated,”
“Most of the fridge manufacturers I spoke to shied away from getting involved, but the team at Carrier Transicold UK were incredibly supportive. This wasn’t something they had done previously in the UK, but they were more than willing to work with us to find the right solution.”
Following a series of tests led by Steve Newton, Carrier Transicold regional technical manager, and independent tests carried out by Vehicle Lease & Service, it was determined that the Neos 100S unit would fit the bill perfectly.
The Neos 100S is a conventional split system, alternator-driven unit for commercial vehicles with a load space of up to six cubic metres. It is mounted externally on the vehicle’s roof to create additional internal space, and has a slim-line evaporator that can be installed small cargo compartments.
“Water samples require delicate handling and must be transported in a secure load space at between +2° and +8°C,” says Foster. “Our previous vehicles took up to 20 minutes to pull down to the required temperature, but with the Neos 100S unit, we have reduced the pull-down phase to just eight minutes. Being electrically driven also means the Carrier unit delivers significant fuel savings.”
The vehicle bodywork was designed and manufactured by Tamworth-based Strong’s Plastic Products. It is expected that the body and refrigeration unit will be transferred onto a new platform cab for a second life, reducing whole-life costs.
“We’re proud to work with such a forward-thinking customer, who challenged us to apply the Neos 100S technology in a different way,” says James Bell, key account manager, Carrier Transicold UK.
Vehicle Lease & Service has one of the new Fiat Doblo platform cab vehicles in operation with Essex & Suffolk Water, and a further five on order to replace older vehicles in the fleet. These units will all be covered under Carrier Transicold GoldenCold fixed maintenance agreements.
