Schmitz Cargobull Delivers eCOOL Trailers to Marine & Cargo

Marine & Cargo has put the first fully electric Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe COOL semi-trailer into operation in England. The emission-free refrigerated trailer is used exclusively under the contract of the Buckinghamshire-based company with S.T.I. (U.K.) Ltd. and delivers temperature-controlled goods to McDonald’s distribution centers across the United Kingdom.

(Horstmar/Great Horwood) Andrew Marshall, Director at Marine & Cargo: “We have had the S.KOe COOL on the road for a few weeks now, and the initial findings are really positive. The technology is easy to use and will provide our company and our customers with enormous sustainability benefits in the long term.

“We consume about 200 liters of diesel per week in our operation, which our standard refrigerated trailers need to keep the goods at the exact required temperature. With the fully electric refrigerated trailer, we eliminate this amount, which is a significant saving that we are already achieving.” Schmitz Cargobull officially launched the S.KOe COOL on the British and Irish markets earlier this year. The S.KOe COOL is type-approved and helps transport companies comply with increasingly stringent emission regulations.

The new refrigerated trailer from Marine & Cargo is equipped with the fully electric transport refrigeration unit S.CU ep85 with integrated power electronics, a battery system, and an electric generator axle that enables 100 percent emission-free operation. The company has combined the S.KOe COOL with a Mercedes-Benz Actros Gigaspace tractor unit powered by a fuel-efficient 530 hp Euro VI engine running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to further reduce emissions.

“Our vehicles are used in long-distance transport on multi-day tours, leaving the depot on Monday mornings and returning on Fridays. Due to the lack of charging infrastructure, there is currently simply no suitable electric option for the tractor unit,” explains Andrew. “So we have to reduce our emissions in other ways. By using this electric trailer, which generates its own energy while driving through the electric axle, we are getting as close as possible to sustainable transport in our operation.”

The electrified trailer axle of the S.KOe COOL recovers energy during braking, extends the operating time of the refrigeration unit, or shortens the battery charging time via the power grid. This also reduces waiting times at distribution centers.

Selection Based on Customer Usage Conditions

Thanks to three predefined modes (ECO, STANDARD, and SAFE), the semi-trailer can be optimized according to the customer’s usage conditions and goals. The ECO mode ensures maximum energy and cost efficiency in refrigerated transport. The STANDARD mode offers cost-effective protection against spoilage of the cargo, while the SAFE mode provides maximum protection against goods spoilage. The modes can be selected via the display and keyboard of the transport refrigeration unit or through the telematics portal and the TrailerConnect® app from Schmitz Cargobull.

Photo: © Schmitz Cargobull