Perth, Scotland: McLaughlan Transport has fitted the first of three Hultsteins Ecogen systems to new Daf tractors to power refrigerated trailers.
“We ordered the new units with a factory-fitted PTO [power take off] so the Ecogen system could be put to work straight away,” George McLaughlan, managing director, McLaughlan Transport said.
“We are the first in Scotland to benefit from Hultsteins’ onboard generators and with the use of gas oil for diesel-powered refrigeration units stopping on 1 April, the price of fuel is going to rocket. Plus, with carbon emissions now high on the environmental list of concerns, it seems like the best thing to do.”
He expects Ecogen to power the diesel fridges for at least 10 years and over that time, maintenance, fuel and vehicle downtime will all be greatly decreased. Plus, although he may see a slight increase in fuel consumption from the tractors, he also anticipates that the emissions from the diesel refrigeration unit will be virtually eliminated.
“Whichever way you look at it, we will definitely be cutting running costs, because the diesel fridge engines will no longer be required when the Ecogens are running.”
Hultsteins’ system generates a constant 400-volt, 3-phase electrical supply which transforms the existing diesel fridge into a hybrid that can run any marque of diesel fridge and fit to any tractor with a PTO.
McLaughlan Transport moves temperature-controlled ISO containers which is where where the Ecogen system will really benefit customers, McLaughlan said. “Normally, the fridge systems on these ISO containers require an electric plug-in and of course when they are on the road, unless the trailer has an on-board genset, the load will not remain temperature-controlled. With Ecogen however, Hultsteins have provided a special converter so the ‘suzi’ can simply plug straight in and keep driving the fridge. Currently, we are the only transporter who can provide this .”
Transcool Scotland fitted the Ecogen system and will service the units.
Graham Usher, UK managing director. Hulsteins, is upbeat regarding the simplicity to fit and fast pay-back of the system: “With this typical application, McLaughlan Transport and all temp-controlled trailer operators can expect to extend the life of existing fridge units and cut costs, while seeing a return on investment in as little as 18 months. And what’s more, if the truck comes with its PTO already fitted, we can install a new Ecogen in around 8 hours.”
