Essen, Germany: Mercedes-Benz is using Frigoblock’s all-electric refrigeration to cool the first near-series battery-powered E-Actros trucks that started practical operations in Germany and the Netherlands.
This project is a collaboration between Frigoblock and Daimler Trucks to offer customers sustainable refrigeration that works with the new Mercedes-Benz E-Actros.
“Furthering sustainable innovation in electric transport refrigeration is the core of what Frigoblock stands for,” said Ingo Kaltwasser, chassis OEM manager, Frigoblock.
“We have worked closely with the engineering teams at Mercedes-Benz Trucks to adapt the Frigoblock technology and meet the precise energy needs of the new E-Actros vehicle.
Electric Frigoblock systems have an integrated inverter to work directly with the battery-powered vehicles, minimising the number of energy-consuming components. This allows for better use of the vehicles’ battery capacity and contributes to increasing vehicle range.
To meet the electrical requirements of the new eActros, Frigoblock designed a new CAN-Bus-Gateway system for direct communication between the truck and the cooling system. The control manages the energy demand of the unit using minimal energy to maintain the set-point temperature. The redesigned CAN-Gateway system also ensures additional electrical safety, independently shutting down the fridge unit in case of an electrical emergency.
“The redesigned CAN communication opens the door to further developments in sustainable, electric transport refrigeration,” said Ingo Kaltwasser. “In the future, with the enhanced communication capabilities and smart route planning, the refrigeration unit will be able to contribute to increasing the electric vehicle’s range and make this sustainable, CO2 neutral cold chain logistics solution even more operationally efficient.”
Simon Loos in the Netherlands and Tevex Logistics in Germany are the two food transport companies that added the first battery-powered and Frigoblock refrigerated E-Actros trucks into their fleets.
The electric truck in Simon Loos fleet, supplies supermarkets in cities, including Rotterdam, the Hague and Delft, with dry goods and fresh, temperature-controlled food. The Frigoblock refrigerated E-Actros will run seven days a week, covering up to 300km a day in a locally CO2-neutral operation. The batteries are charged overnight at the customer’s distribution centre in Delfgauw.
Tevex Logistics plans to use the new Frigoblock refrigerated E-Actros in multi-shift operation. The logistics subsidiary of the Tönnies Group will transport its own high-food products to customers in the local area. The company expects the truck to travel up to 600km per day and will be recharged at a charging station on the company’s premises.
“It’s an important achievement for us to see Frigoblock technology enabling cold chain logistics customers to operate the first battery-powered eActros trucks in Europe,” said Ingo Kaltwasser. “The electric innovation from Frigoblock will continue to help our customers make their fleets more sustainable, minimise the environmental impact of transport operations and reduce CO2 emissions in inner city areas.”
