U.K.-based James Hall & Co.’s transport and logistics department recently added its first fully electric refrigerated trailer.
With an electric Carrier Transicold transport refrigeration unit (TRU) in place of a diesel-powered TRU, the new trailer doesn’t require diesel fuel to keep products cold, saving the company money and also eliminating CO2 emissions. The new trailer, decorated with “special green livery” to distinguish it from other trailers in the fleet, will transport products to Spar convenience stores in the North of England, the company said in a release.
“We are very pleased to take delivery of the new trailer and it looks fantastic in its special livery,” said Ian Farnworth, fleet engineering manager at James Hall. “It is a first for us as a business and the trailer is already delivering savings when out on the road. We will be monitoring its performance with interest over the coming weeks and months.”
James Hall will charge the trailer’s TRU battery and pre-chill its load space while on site at its Spar distribution center in Preston, England. When off-site, the battery pack provides a five-hour reserve run time to support the trailer’s refrigeration unit when it’s not moving and when it’s without a main supply, the company said.
The investment, which is part of James Hall’s replacement program, supports the family-owned company’s commitment to running a greener fleet.
“While it is supporting a reduction of costs on diesel as an associated benefit, at the forefront of the decision to invest in the trailer is the benefits it brings to the environment,” Farnworth said. “We are also aware of an increasing number of cities and metropolitan areas within our patch that are implementing clean air zones and we are conscious of these factors when making investment decisions.”
