Wabash National, partners improving refrigerated hauls for customers
Wabash National, by harnessing eNow solar power and Carrier Transicold all-electric refrigeration technologies, now is offering customers what it says is the most thermally efficient, eco-friendly refrigerated haul available.
First shown as a zero-emission trailer at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in February, the Wabash MSC refrigerated trailer with solar-electric TRU now is commercially available as a road-ready solution.
Although solar-electric solutions aren’t new to the trucking industry, they haven’t been widely adopted because no manufacturer has been able to demonstrate real viability of a roadworthy solution, Wabash said.
“We haven’t seen high demand for zero-emission trailers for refrigerated hauls due to the location and size of batteries,” said Robert Lane, Wabash National’s vice president of product innovations. “This is the first time a major trailer innovation has been coupled with a major TRU innovation that results in breakthrough customer value in a sustainable format. Our Molded Structural Composite (MSC) technology provides a unique platform for electric powered TRUs. The large gain in thermal efficiencies allow a customer to either downsize the batteries required to haul cargo or increase the run time on a battery setup.”
The cost to operate and maintain a diesel reefer system can total hundreds of millions of dollars for US fleets. With Wabash, eNow and Carrier Transicold, customers get a zero-emission refrigerated transportation solution that is more energy efficient and boasts a lower operating cost.
Wabash maintains its MSC Refrigerated Trailer is the most thermally efficient, lightest and most durable reefer on the road. The company’s proprietary MSC technology sets standards in efficiency with significant thermal performance, maximized payload capacity, corrosion resistance and the industry’s highest standard floor rating.
The eNow Rayfrigeration System is a solar-electric power system that enables a full 12-hour route duration without employing a diesel engine to power the TRU. It can cut operating costs by over 50% compared to diesel reefers, eNow says.
And Carrier Transicold’s engineless Vector 8100 unit is an efficient and uniquely all-electric trailer refrigeration system that delivers the benefits of reduced maintenance and noise, while eliminating emissions and fuel consumption associated with traditional diesel TRUs, according to the company.
“We are excited about our partnership with Wabash,” said Jeff Flath, eNow president. “Our combined technologies should have a major impact in reducing operating cost.”
Customers can learn more about Wabash’s MSC Reefers with solar-electric TRUs by contacting a sales representative at 855-530-3870 or [email protected].
