Funded through Innovate UK, the trial sees Waitrose working with the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight at the University of Cambridge to demonstrate how the vehicle could reduce CO2 emissions and improve fleet efficiency.
The Syberia Twincool runs entirely on hydro-electric power generated by the truck’s Euro VI engine. The refrigeration unit is powered by Carrier’s Eco-Drive GenSet, driven by a hydro pump connected to the truck’s PTO motor. The hydraulic system drives a generator that delivers electrical power to the host unit and provides a continual, 100% refrigeration capacity even when the truck is idling.
“We wanted to put the engineless solution to the test and monitor performance across a full 12-month period,” says Simon Gray, fleet engineer for Waitrose.
“The results of the trial will likely guide our future fleet specification – hopefully allowing us to focus on continuing to improve the sustainability of our transport operations.”
The Syberia unit also contributes to the natural gas truck’s quiet operation, with a PIEK-compliant noise level of 60dB(A) at full capacity.
Waitrose has specified more than 400 Carrier Transicold units for its commercial vehicle fleet since 2010.