Amsterdam, Netherlands: TIP is pushing emission-free refrigerated trailers using solar energy to power the fridge.
The company has launched two innovations: the E-reefer, using the net to power its battery, and the AxlePower, using the reefer’s lost energy as a power source for its refrigeration unit.
TIP is also piloting Endurance; a battery and solar-powered fridge with trailers using UK-based Sunswap’s battery and solar-powered fridge removing the need for traditional diesel-powered system.
The twelve-month pilot will launch this summer with 40 battery and solar-powered fridges entering service in August 2023. Interim results of the pilot will be announced later this year.
The system is fully electric and depending on conditions, the solar panels can typically provide 65% to 100% of the charge needed to operate the fridge. This not only decreases a fleet’s carbon footprint but also provides a reliable source of energy to extend the range of the fridge.
Once the pilot project is completed, the technology could be deployed more widely by TIP, providing a best practice solution for the industry.
The purpose of this pilot is to run the reefers completely on electricity during working hours. This system will be tested using electricity from solar panels, which saves fleet operators up to 90% of the operating cost of a diesel refrigerator.
Fast onboard charges and solar panels mean that the unit can be fully recharged without any additional downtime between routes. Previous trials have shown that a single charge can power the system for 24 hours at frozen temperatures, 2 days at multiple compartment temperatures, and 3 months at chilled temperatures (using free clean solar energy).
The units are able to complete the same delivery cycles as diesel units without any operational disruption, making the Endurance a promising alternative to diesel fridges, TIP says.
