Carrier Transicold unveils new Supra eCool reefers

Carrier Transicold plans to introduce two single-temperature, electric truck refrigeration units later this year as parts of its new Supra eCool series aimed at helping California fleets meet looming zero-emission deadlines.

The Supra eCool electric units will cover 14- to 28-foot, Class 5 to 7 straight truck applications and are designed for fleets seeking regulatory compliance or simply cleaner, more sustainable options, the company said. The engineless Supra e9 and e11 units will provide comparable refrigeration performance to Carrier Transicold’s diesel-powered Supra S8 and S10 units. Efficient performance and proprietary power management technologies optimize battery life to maximize range in support of daily delivery operations.

“Supra eCool units are versatile when it comes to their power supply source,” Bill Maddox, Carrier Transicold’s senior product manager for trucks trailers Americas. “They can take power directly from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) or, when used with conventional engine-driven trucks, the units can run autonomously using their own power pack. This makes them especially well-suited for fleets in California that are now required to begin adding zero-emissions truck refrigeration units, which may be installed on trucks with battery-electric or engine-driven powertrains.”

According to the manufacturer, Supra eCool units feature:

• Efficient zero-emissions performance: Utilizing a direct-current electric power source, the unit eliminates fuel consumption, emissions, and noise associated with engine-driven systems.
• Maximum range and high refrigeration capacity: Designed for a full day’s use, the refrigeration performance is on par with conventional diesel systems.
• Reduced service requirements: Maintenance-free electric evaporator and condenser fans, and a sealed electric compressor reduce maintenance needs.
• More environmentally sustainable refrigerant: The unit uses R-452A, a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) 45% lower than the traditional refrigerant used in transport applications.
• Lynx Fleet telematics: Carrier Transicold’s industry-leading telematics solution is factory installed for remote monitoring of temperatures, location, movement, battery state of charge and system operating performance. (Service plan required.)

In BEV applications, the Supra eCool interface provides a high-voltage interlock with the vehicle’s battery and communicates to the vehicle using a proprietary CAN bus system. For applications where a separate power source is required, Carrier Transicold offers a 38-kWh high-voltage DC power pack with a built-in water-cooled temperature management system. The power pack uses a high-power DC fast-charging system.

The Supra eCool design includes a variable-speed electric scroll compressor and an electronic expansion valve in the evaporator, helping extend the operating range by more precisely and efficiently matching power draw from the battery to the cooling need at hand.

Commercial availability in North America is slated for later this year to help California fleets comply with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) deadline of Dec. 31 to convert 15% of their refrigerated trucks to zero-emission refrigeration technologies.