Thermo King, the world’s leading manufacturer of transport temperature-controlled solutions, unveiled its latest breakthrough in trailer refrigeration technology at the Brisbane Truck Show.
The new A-500 Spectrum unit is the latest addition to the company’s already impressive range of products and services in Australia, focused on providing customers with a true zero-emission solution.
With many parts of European cities pushing for an end to diesel emissions, Thermo King has developed the A-500 Spectrum to work seamlessly with alternative, sustainable power sources.
In partnership with BPW and their e-Power axle, the Spectrum is powered by electricity from the trailer’s battery pack, which remains charged from the e-axle whilst on the road, or with electric standby in the depots.
Peter Lawrence, Thermo King’s Technical Director for ANZ explains further; “The Spectrum is the new version of the Advancer platform, arriving just in time for the Brisbane Truck show. The A-500 Spectrum is ideal for single temperature and dual temperature operations with various evaporators to suit different applications.”
Thermo King’s commitment to providing world-class solutions for ultimate temperature control makes this product essential for anyone with a refrigerated trailer fleet. Offering a higher zone cooling capacity, faster pulldown with more precise temperature management and superior system balance between zones.
It also features multiple monitoring and diagnostic options with an extended communication reach, enhanced energy efficiency, improved cooling performance and is set to revolutionise trailer refrigeration as the transport industry moves to electrification.
With modern trailers becoming more complex, it is also essential that all the components work in sync to be effective.
Peter comments; “Through the collaboration between Thermo King and BPW, we have been able to optimise the design of this new refrigeration unit to use the power generated with the electric axles and stored within the trailer’s onboard batteries, to run the refrigeration units continuously on electric whilst on the road.”
“Our collaboration with BPW started in 2019 to combine their electric e-Power axle and the ability to recover energy from the trailer efficiently. The smarts onboard capture the energy from the axles, to power our refrigeration units, in three modes, Active, Recuperative and Passive.”
Firstly, Recuperative mode operates when the trailer is going downhill and the e-Power axle’s generators are working at their maximum rate, working as regenerative brakes to produce the maximum electricity whilst reducing brake wear.
Secondly, Active mode works when the batteries need charging to power the fridge unit, and the trailer is running along level ground, to ensure the fridge continues to run without causing unnecessary drag on the truck.
Thirdly, Passive mode ensures the e-axle disengages if the vehicle starts to climb a hill to reduce unnecessary resistance on the truck.
Peter adds; “The system also works with the trailer’s electronic braking system to ensure the e-Power axle disengages if the trailer’s EBS system has an event trigger, so everything works together safely.”
The A-500 Spectrum unit is also in a streamlined design which is ideal for trailers with tight configurations and features a faster install time, which Thermo King claims can be up to 75% faster than traditional systems, making it an ideal solution for large fleets and manufacturers.
