The big news on the Carrier Transicold stand at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover was its launch of the Vector 1550 trailer refrigeration unit.
The new unit, which has been designed for single-temperature reefers, builds on Carrier's existing all-electric multi-zone 1850, but with improved technology that further cuts energy, noise and refrigerant gas losses.
Cooling capacity is 14.8kW, but that's achieved using only a 1.5-litre diesel engine, driving a hermetic compressor with a patented economiser.
The latter serves to boost cooling by 40% for rapid pull-down, but, as Carrier sales director John Forster explains, it then automatically cuts back for precision temperature regulation.
Hence the "at least 20%" energy saving (and commensurate carbon emissions reduction), but hence also its high speed of pull-down – matched by a fast defrost cycle, powered by 8.8kW.
As for reliability, Forster also points to the fact that electric operation removes a large number of service parts from the unit, which, he says, means reduced maintenance costs and downtime. It also means reduced weight – with the unit coming in at 739kg – and noise (71dBA).
Interestingly, Carrier's recent survey of a 700-trailer fleet, operated by an unnamed UK retail chain, showed 99.4% availability on Vectra-equipped trailers.
Carrier Transicold believes its Vector 1550 will see uptake in a variety of truck operations – including long-distance and distribution refrigerated transport, either for fresh or frozen applications. And it points to the ColdTrans web-based option for remote temperature monitoring.
