Blazing the electric trail(er)

Next generation electrified refrigerated trailers, which will reduce diesel consumption and deliver lower total cost of ownership, are on the horizon. JACO DE KLERK reports.

A development and supply agreement with eNow – a clean-technology company and pioneer of renewable energy systems for heavy-duty trucks and trailers – has been announced by XL Fleet Corp, a leading provider of vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets in North America. This partnership will enable the development of fully electric transport refrigeration units (eTRUs) for Class 8 (a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 14 969 kg) commercial trailers.

With more than 240-million km driven by customers such as The Coca-Cola Company, Verizon, Yale University and the City of Boston, XL Fleet’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric drive systems have proven to increase fuel economy between 25 and 50% and reduce CO₂ emissions up to 20 to 33%.

And eNow’s award-winning systems, which use a combination of green power sources, including solar, reduce CO₂ emissions and cut fuel and maintenance costs of reefer trailers by 30 to 50%. The company has pioneered the development of mobile solar battery charging systems in the commercial fleet market since 2011. Its patented solar systems efficiently capture the sun’s energy with roof-mounted solar modules, and then store the energy in auxiliary batteries used to power lift gates, in-cab HVAC, refrigeration, telematics, appliances and lighting.

“We have been collaborating with eNow on critical engineering elements of this exciting next generation electrified refrigerated trailer offering for some time now, and continue to be impressed by the team’s technology, ingenuity and shared passion for sustainability,” says Dimitri Kazarinoff, CEO of XL Fleet.

XL Fleet is developing the high-capacity integrated lithium-ion battery and power electronics technology that will be installed underfloor on the Class 8 trailer, providing approximately 12 hours or more of run time between charges. eNow will integrate this system into its architecture, including solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer to maintain the battery charge and extend operation.

Currently available 480V 3 phase shore power will be used to charge the batteries and power the eTRU while the truck is idling or during loading and unloading of the trailer. The system will be equipped with a thermal management system to enable year-round operation across North America. XL Grid – a division of XL Fleet that provides charging infrastructure, energy storage and power solutions for electrified fleets – will support customers who require new charging or expanded charging infrastructure, or energy solutions.

This partnership also builds on XL Fleet’s promise of delivering Electrification-as-a-Service, by allowing customers to finance or lease the refrigerated trailers and related infrastructure. “Our partnership and associated investment is consistent with our fleet electrification strategy, and provides us with efficient access to a large market with significant growth potential, while opening new doors for additional opportunities to provide our integrated fleet electrification and XL Grid solutions to Class 8 fleets,” says Tod Hynes, founder and president of XL Fleet.

Approximately 50 000 new diesel-powered refrigerated trailers are sold annually in the US, reflecting a multi-billion-dollar potential total addressable market for all-electric solutions. Each conventional diesel-power refrigerated trailer can consume as much diesel as a delivery truck uses in a day, so there are opportunities for diesel and emissions savings with electrified refrigerated trailers.

eTRUs also deliver a lower total cost of ownership. They can be hauled by a traditional internal combustion engine or electrified tractors, as a way for fleet managers to immediately and significantly reduce emissions. XL Fleet and eNow expect to deliver the initial eTRUs beginning in the first half of 2022 to customers in industries including food, retail, manufacturing and distribution.

“XL Fleet’s mission – to help corporations and their fleets lower operating costs while supporting sustainability goals – aligns closely with ours,” says Jeff Flath, president and CEO of eNow. “This partnership will change the way the transportation industry thinks about energy and refrigerated transportation, as together we will offer the most advanced renewable power systems for reefer trailers, coupled with charging infrastructure, to eliminate a major source of diesel fuel consumption and emissions for fleets.”