‘Greenest’ refrigerated truck goes into service for dairy business15 August 2014

West Horsley Dairy is making deliveries around London with a 7.5-tonne Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid, complete with a carbon- and noise-free chiller which uses a eutectic system instead of traditional air-blown fridge.

The Canter Eco Hybrid's chassis was supplied by dealer Rossetts Commercials and the insulated body was built by Jackson Coachworks, of Loughborough, featuring its 'eistechnik' eutectic refrigeration system.

Eutectic refrigeration is based on the principle of latent heat – a special gel is frozen to the required temperature at the Woking-based dairy's depot overnight. While deliveries are made the next day, the gel thaws and the resulting cold air refrigerates the area around it, emitting no carbon or noise emissions.

The Canter Eco Hybrid has a 150bhp diesel engine, which works in parallel with a slimline 40kW (54bhp) electric motor. It moves off using electric power, switching to diesel and electric operation when it reaches a speed of 6 mph.

The electric motor also supports the diesel engine at higher speeds, switching between the two with no input from the driver.

Despite the stop-start nature of the delivery route, joint managing director Philip Colton says the vehicle is performing well in terms of fuel efficiency: "Following the driver training delivered by Rossetts, we're definitely starting to see improved mpg figures compared to the vehicle that was on the same job previously."

His wife Catherine Colton is calling for recognition from Transport for London, in the form of a reduction in the daily Congestion Charge "to reflect the commitment to the environment that we've demonstrated".

The truck will be maintained at Rossetts Commercials' Aldershot workshop and joins West Horsley's fleet of 40 temperature-controlled trucks and vans.

Author
Laura Cork

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