So says Dearman, the clean cold technology company, which has investigated the impact of zero-emission versus traditional refrigeration in commercial vehicles.
Refrigeration systems on trucks are typically powered by an auxiliary diesel engine, which can emit up to six times the NOx and 29 times the particulate matter of a truck’s Euro 6 propulsion engine.
The findings of Dearman’s research indicate that replacing a diesel-powered refrigeration unit on a Euro 6 17-tonne rigid body truck would cut the vehicle’s overall engine emissions of particulate matter by 93%, and reduce NOx emissions by 73%.
“Companies have already invested billions into R&D to make truck and car engines significantly cleaner. But auxiliary engines, including transport refrigeration units, are lagging behind,” says Toby Peters, Dearman’s CEO.
“By increasingly moving over to zero-emission alternatives, there is an opportunity to have a major environmental impact without forcing companies to change the way they operate. It could be a small change that makes a big difference.”
Dearman’s transport refrigeration system – soon to be deployed in commercial field trials – is powered by the expansion of liquid nitrogen.