Swiss dairy company Emmi Schweiz has deployed three electrified refrigerated trailers from Nivalis Energy Europe as part of its efforts to reduce emissions from its refrigerated transport fleet. Now operating on live distribution routes, the trailers power their energy-intensive refrigeration systems using dedicated battery systems, preserving the e-trucks\u2019 battery capacity for driving.<\/p>\n
One of Switzerland\u2019s largest dairy companies, Emmi supplies milk, cheese, yoghurt and other chilled products through an extensive refrigerated distribution network. Each of the new electrified trailers will travel an average of 200-400 kilometers per day\u2014the refrigeration units normally operate for around 6-10 hours daily.<\/p>\n
Unlike a conventional refrigerated trailer, which relies on a separate diesel-powered Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU), the Nivalis platform powers refrigeration using an onboard battery energy system. As Emmi\u2019s trucks are also fully electric, the Nivalis Reefer avoids reducing the EV truck\u2019s driving range.<\/p>\n
The Nivalis platform\u2019s modular architecture enables fleets to configure a combination of battery, rooftop solar and regenerative e-axle technologies according to their specific operating requirements. For Emmi\u2019s urban distribution routes, the trailers, manufactured by Ackermann Fahrzeugbau, have been equipped with Nivalis\u2019s battery-electric refrigeration platform\u2014which uses a Mitsubishi TEU1300SA refrigeration unit\u2014and seven rooftop solar panels.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur customers depend on us to deliver chilled products safely and reliably every day, so any new technology must integrate seamlessly into our existing operations,\u201d said Emmi\u2019s Head of Fleet Management Stefan Leyers. \u201cSince entering commercial service in June, the trailers have performed reliably, and we\u2019ve been very pleased with the results. The experience and operational data we\u2019re gaining from their deployment will help inform the next steps in our longer-term fleet electrification journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElectrification will only be adopted at scale if it fits naturally into the way fleets already operate,\u201d said Pavel Gilman, VP Sales & Project Management at Nivalis Energy Europe. \u201cEvery fleet is different, so the future isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all approach\u2014it\u2019s giving operators the flexibility to deploy the right combination of technologies for their business. That\u2019s why our platform is modular, allowing customers like Emmi to electrify refrigerated transport in a way that complements their existing operations.\u201d<\/p>\n