Brussels, Belgium: Fraikin Group has expanded its rental fleet with electric-powered MAN E-TGE vans refrigerated with Thermo King E-200 units.
Fraikin is the first in Belgium to operate the Thermo King-refrigerated electric MANs.
Fraikin is now able to give its customers the opportunity to experience the zero-emission, electric vans and test how the latest innovations can improve operations.
Fraikin worked with Thermo King and its dealer in Belgium and Luxembourg, Gradius
“We have a long-lasting relationship with Thermo King and Gradius, and we knew we could count on their support and expertise in selecting the best refrigeration technology for an electric-powered delivery vehicle,” said Cyriel Vrijders, commercial director Benelux, Fraikin.
“We have been carefully following the latest technology innovations and were confident that collaborating together we would be able to satisfy our customers’ increasing interest in zero-emission, electric refrigerated transport.”
“Our expertise in electrification has positioned Thermo King as a trusted partner. Projects like this with Fraikin give us pride that our innovations help advance sustainable transport and reduce the carbon footprint of customer operations,” said Samer Hawat, area sales and service manager Benelux, Thermo King.
“Each of the parties involved in this project, from Fraikin to Gradius and MAN have brought their competences together through great teamwork. That made this new environmentally friendly solution possible and available to transport operators across Belgium.”
Fraikin’s electric-powered MAN E-TGE van was fitted with Thermo King E-200 refrigeration unit. The E-200, being inverter driven, unlike typical direct drive solutions designed for diesel combustion engines, delivers constant capacity and can seamlessly work with electric-powered vehicles.
The unit’s power management contributes to lower energy consumption, increased vehicle autonomy and higher efficiency and reliability. To ensure hold-over capacity and that the electric vehicle could operate fresh and frozen deliveries 8 hours per day, the van was fitted with additional 11kW battery pack.
“Sustainability is very important for Fraikin. We have felt a certain responsibility to introduce the vehicle to our short-term rental fleet to give more clients the possibility to experience and convince themselves to the new technology,” Vrijders said.
“Since the onset of the project, many major operators of fresh and frozen deliveries had the chance to evaluate how that solution fits their type of operations – the distances they cover, the number of door openings per day etc. Today apart from the demo vehicle we already have a number of long-term contracts with different customers that benefit from this zero-emission solution across Belgium.”
