The new Vector eCool is mounted to a 13.6-metre Gray & Adams trailer with a Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 refrigeration unit. The combination allows Trans-Bridge Freight Services to predominantly power the system using electricity harnessed from the kinetic energy generated by the trailer axle and brakes, with the option to use the unit’s diesel engine in case of emergency.
“Since welcoming our first Carrier unit in 2015, we’ve been consistently impressed with its performance and reliability, so bringing the advanced technology of the Vector eCool into the fleet was the next logical step,” said Brian Anderton, director at Trans-Bridge Freight Services. “Even the most minute temperature change can have a significant impact on the products we transport, so set point control is vital. Bad weather regularly means our trailers can be stuck in the port or on the ferry for much longer than anticipated, so having the ability to revert to diesel power if required gives us extra peace of mind – this combination makes the Vector eCool the ideal product for our needs.”
Carrier Transicold’s Vector eCool system is an autonomous electric refrigeration system, producing no direct carbon dioxide or particulate emissions. The Vector eCool is also PIEK-compliant, which combined with its emissions performance, is said to make it a solution for tightening inner city and urban regulations. The trailers can be plugged into the electrical grid when parked and are charged in two hours using a standard five pin, three-phase standby plug.
“The Vector eCool is an ideal fit for customers like Trans-Bridge Freight that need to transport temperature-sensitive cargo,” said Geoff Fearnley-Hill, national key account manager at Carrier Transicold UK. “The battery system ensures the Vector HE 19 operates with the same level of performance as the standard setup, but having the hybrid option in this case highlights the sheer flexibility it can provide operators.”
The Vector HE 19 combines Carrier Transicold’s E-Drive technology with a multi-speed engine design that includes a hermetic scroll compressor and copper pipework. The system is claimed to offer annual F Gas containment rates in excess of 95% compared to rates typically lower than 85% for traditional diesel units reliant on mechanically belt driven open drive compressor technology. This plays a part in reducing overall carbon emissions, contributing to Carrier’s goal of helping customers avoid more than one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The new unit is also backed by Carrier Transicold’s BluEdge fixed-cost maintenance package, including annual temperature control testing and certification, full regulatory checks and access to the company’s oneCall 24/7 incident management system.
The Vector eCool-mounted trailer will be based at the customer’s headquarters in Manchester, where it will be used to collect orders from Trans-Bridge Freight Services’ pharmaceutical customers for delivery to the business’ Antrim facility in Northern Ireland.
