At the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026, ECOOLTEC is presenting the all-electric T15 transport refrigeration unit. This unit also uses natural refrigerants for cooling and is designed for rigids, drawbar trailers and semi-trailers in single-temperature operation. Thanks to its high performance, it is also suitable for the most demanding applications in distribution transport. In addition, ECOOLTEC is replacing the previous remote control with a more compact model.
From 15 to 20 September 2026, ECOOLTEC Grosskopf GmbH will be presenting its latest product innovations at the IAA TRANSPORTATION under the motto ‘Safe and Environmentally Friendly’. The highlight of the show for the specialist in
particularly sustainable transport refrigeration is the new T15 unit. It is designed for rigid vehicles, drawbar trailers and semi-trailers in single-temperature operation.
Whilst the TM182, which is already available, can also be used as a single-temperature unit, it is primarily used for multi-temperature configurations. “The ECOOLTEC TM182 is designed to meet the extremely high demands of multitemp
applications. However, many customers operate refrigerated vehicles exclusively with a single temperature zone and therefore do not require the versatility of the TM182. With the T15, we are providing them with a model that is precisely tailored to this requirement”, explains ECOOLTEC CTO Holger Dörre.
The T15 operates in the same way as the TM182. “Over the past few years, the ECOOLTEC technology has proven its worth, time and again in day-to-day transport operations. Several hundred units are now in daily use with customers across Europe, demonstrating their reliability under a wide variety of operating conditions. This confirms our technological approach and provides us with the ideal basis for the next generation of products”, reports ECOOLTEC CEO Henning Altebäumer.
Same design principle, adapted components
This means that the T15 can be powered electrically via the in-house high performance alternator connected to the truck‘s engine, a battery or a separate power source, and therefore does not require an integrated diesel engine.
Furthermore, instead of the fluorinated refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons) R452A and R410A – which are currently predominantly used in transport refrigeration and have GWP (Global Warming Potential) values of over 2,000 – the T15 uses exclusively the natural refrigerants R1270 (propene, GWP: 0) for cooling and CO2 (R744, GWP: 1) for cold distribution. As a result, like the TM182, it meets the highest standards of sustainability and operational safety.
ECOOLTEC also retains the dual-circuit, fully hermetic design of the refrigeration circuit with minimal refrigerant charge. The refrigeration process takes place entirely outside the cargo compartment. There, the natural, constant air flow ensures that propene escaping, for example as a result of an accident, immediately mixes with the ambient air and dissipates. This prevents a flammable mixture from forming in the first place. Within the box body, meanwhile, the natural refrigerant CO2 ensures the distribution of cold air. The R1270 and the CO₂ circuits flow past each other outside the body, thermally linked via a plate heat exchanger.
The T15 is suitable for rigid vehicles, drawbar trailers and semi-trailers
Unlike the TM182, which has two separate refrigeration systems for multi-temp operation, for monotemp mode, the two evaporators are connected in parallel. The T15 has only one evaporator, the capacity of which is adapted to the requirements of a single-chamber operation. Both systems have the same housing, and the installation position of the two systems is identical.
The T15 is also designed so that its capacity meets the requirements of comparatively compact rigid vehicles and drawbar trailers as well as those of larger semi-trailers. The model name T15 denotes 15,000 watts of cooling capacity at 0 °C and an ambient temperature of 30 °C. At –20 °C and an ambient temperature of 30 °C, the capacity is 8,300 watts. This meets the requirements of chilled and frozen vehicles operating in the demanding conditions of multiple drop distribution.
Suitable for DIN-standard mounting: new remote control for indoor and outdoor use
ECOOLTEC is also replacing the previous remote control with a new model featuring more compact external dimensions. This allows the unit to be positioned more flexibly within the driver’s cab and fitted into a DIN-sized recess. In developing this new model, ECOOLTEC has ensured that the familiar ease of use is retained. Despite its smaller dimensions, the display, for example, is the same size as before and therefore remains very easy to read. The operating philosophy has also remained the same. The driver can control all the essential functions of the transport refrigeration system using just a few buttons, which are marked with
intuitive symbols. The unit is also suitable for mounting on the outside of the box body as well as inside it.
ECOOLTEC will be showcasing its transport refrigeration systems at the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 at its own stand, A16, in Hall 27, as well as on vehicles in the outdoor exhibition area (K43, J41 and J44) and at numerous other partner stands. For example, the new T15 transport refrigeration unit can be viewed on an extra-long rigid and drawbar trailer at ROHR pezialfahrzeuge (Hall 25, Stand B51). Further ECOOLTEC systems can be found on exhibits from various vehicle manufacturers.
The ideal combination: ECOOLTEC refrigeration unit and a battery-electric truck
From an environmental perspective, this is the ideal solution. However, that combination poses challenges for both manufacturers of the chassis and the transport refrigeration unit. For example, communication protocols must be developed specifically for each vehicle brand, so that the system cools reliably in accordance with the specification in every every operating condition, regardless of the BEV truck manufacturer. ECOOLTEC has now developed solutions for the electric-powered HGV vehicles of seven brands – regardless of whether the system is connected via an electric power take-off (ePTO) that supplies alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).
In addition, alongside the familiar E1312 and E1221 variants, ECOOLTEC is showcasing the new E2322 flat evaporator. Whilst the combination of the E1221and E1312 is suitable for multi-temperature bodies divided lengthways by a partition in a one-to-two ratio, the use of two E1221 evaporators is designed for bodies with a one-to-one longitudinal division, as well as for the combination with a transverse partition. The E2322, in turn, is designed for single-chamber operation in conjunction with the new T15 refrigeration unit. “We are proud of the entire ECOOLTEC team. In a short amount of time, we have expanded our product range and successfully integrated our systems into electric trucks from various manufacturers with their different high-voltage architectures and communication interfaces. At the same time, we now serve customers both domestically and abroad. We are looking forward to many discussions with customers and partners at the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 in Hanover”, says CEO Henning Altebäumer.
