Berlin, Germany: Schmitz Cargobull’s all-electric S.KOe Cool refrigerated trailer has gained the top award at this year’s German Award for Sustainability Projects winning the Technology – Energy category.
“Schmitz Cargobull has been investing in research and development for sustainable and energy-efficient transport solutions for many years. We are delighted that the all-electric S.KOe Cool refrigerated box has won this award, recognising it as a transport solution that can make a significant contribution to reducing the CO2 footprint,” said Marnix Lannoije, director of research and development, Schmitz Cargobull.
“The award is for the entire team and underlines our commitment to sustainable cutting-edge technology. At the same time, it is also a mandate for us to continue offering customers practical transport solutions that pay off,” he said.
The all-electric S.KOe Cool semi-trailer has a purely electric refrigeration unit with integrated power electronics and a high-voltage battery system, as well as an axle generator, allowing it to operate emission-free. The electric vehicle is quiet, enabling deliveries in urban areas in the early morning hours as well as in the late evening.
The batteries on the landing gear replace the diesel tank and also offer the option of installing an additional pallet box with space for 36 pallets. The payload of the all-electric refrigerated box with high-voltage battery and e-axle is roughly the same as that of a refrigerated trailer with a diesel unit. The additional weight of the battery on the all-electric refrigerated trailer is almost completely compensated by the elimination of the generator.
The electric Schmitz Cargobull trailer axle recuperates energy during braking, extending the operating time of the refrigeration unit or reducing the recharging times of the battery via the power grid. In practical use in delivery traffic, fuel savings of 5% were achieved in combination with a diesel-powered tractor. The generator output of the electric axle is matched to the requirements of the refrigeration system that is integrated into the Schmitz Cargobull telematics, so that the battery charge status, remaining range and remaining charging time can be monitored via the telematics portal.
At the German Award for Sustainability Projects, 283 companies or projects were nominated, 69 of which won awards. The jury judged the sustainability projects on economic and environmental goals, such as raw material efficiency, recycling and nature conservation, and social objectives including education, health and equal opportunities.
