Clean, quiet, lightweight, and cost-effective. These are just a few of the advantages of the electric refrigerated trailers that THT New Cool has been renting out to transport companies for several years now. Around a thousand of them are already driving on European roads and beyond, and it's clear that this number is only going to grow.
The benefits of an electrically powered cooling unit: No diesel, no pollution, quiet, and economically attractive
The story began back in 2007, when Twan Heetkamp, already active in the transport sector, teamed up with partners including TRS/Carrier to develop the idea of an electric cooling engine. The first prototype was built in 2012, and by 2013, it was already on the road. That same unit is still running today, after twelve years and more than 20,000 operating hours.
Between 2014 and 2017, a second test phase followed with 22 trailers in daily use. They performed reliably and proved the system was ready to scale up. Today, close to 1,000 THT New Cool trailers are operating not only in Europe, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Their electric cooling engine can be fitted to trailers of any brand.
Carrier Vector eCool
One of the key components of the electric cooling system is the energy axle. "It generates electricity whenever the trailer slows down," explains Heetkamp. That energy is stored in an aluminum-encased battery pack developed by Carrier Transicold. "It only weighs 325 kilos and can handle 4,000 charge cycles at 80% depth of discharge."
The stored energy powers the Carrier Vector eCool unit. If the battery charge drops below 40 percent, an automatic generator kicks in and recharges it to 60–70 percent. "The battery capacity is 19.5 kWh. More capacity would mean heavier and more expensive, so we've kept it deliberately light and efficient. Charging once a week is enough."
Out with diesel, in with silence and sustainability
Compared to diesel-powered units, the benefits are striking. "First of all, no diesel. That means no leaking tanks and no expensive fuel. Second, silence. The maximum noise level is about 56 decibels, which is basically just the sound of the fans. Cooling without moving air is impossible, of course, but it's still much quieter than diesel."
The system also makes sense economically. "The initial investment is higher, but from year seven onwards the savings start adding up. Every day you save about 30 liters of diesel, and most trailers stay on the road well beyond seven years." On top of that, the electric system is lighter and better balanced. "The battery pack is positioned where the old pallet storage space used to be, which reduces the load on the tractor's rear axle."
Grid congestion? Not a problem
One common concern with electrification, especially in the Netherlands, is grid congestion. But according to Heetkamp, their trailers hardly add to the problem. "They generate their own electricity while driving, energy that would otherwise be wasted during braking. External charging is only occasionally needed."
The trailers are particularly suited for day distribution and shorter trips. For longer hauls, charging options along the route are necessary. "Or you run with two drivers. But the majority of refrigerated transport takes place in day distribution anyway, and that's exactly where the opportunities are."
The evolution cannot be stopped
Heetkamp is convinced the future is electric, not only for cooling engines but for the trucks themselves. "It's all about the numbers. Once electric trucks become cheaper per kilometer, everyone will switch. That moment is coming. In 2019, we delivered a trailer coupled to an electric truck with a 100 km range. Two years later, it was already 200 km, now it's around 600 km, and soon it will be 700–800 km."
In the Netherlands alone, around 800 new electric trucks are registered each year. "The technology is here. The challenge now is building the right infrastructure and ensuring affordable electricity. Grid congestion will be solved in time, and low-cost power solutions will follow."
Heetkamp even sketches a future where companies become energy suppliers themselves. "Imagine a distribution center with solar panels. During the day, you generate electricity, and in the evening, you sell that power to the trucks parked on your site overnight. Then, as a shipper, you're delivering not only goods but also energy, while saving money."
The real polluter: The cooling motor, not the truck
Few people realize that the small diesel cooling engine is actually far more polluting than the truck pulling the trailer. "Sixteen times more polluting, to be exact," says Heetkamp. "Refrigerated trailers make up about 20 percent of freight traffic, but they're responsible for more than 50 percent of fine particle emissions in transport."
Currently, there are nearly 1,000 trailers with an electric cooling motor from THT New Cool active
This is due to a loophole in the legislation. "Engines above 17 kW had to comply with strict Euro standards. So what did manufacturers do? They downsized their engines just below the limit instead of making them cleaner."
That's where Heetkamp sees the real opportunity. "If you want to make a quick environmental impact in transport, replace the diesel cooling engines. That delivers more benefits than electrifying all the trucks on the road."
This article previously appeared in issue 8, 39th year of Primeur. See www.agfprimeur.nl.
For more information:
THT New Cool 
Horsterweg 74 C
5971 NG Grubbenvorst
Tel: +31 (0) 6 53240260
https://thtnewcool.eu
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