Customers Experience State-of-the-art Refrigeration Technology through Carrier Transicold’s Year-long Vector eCool Roadshow

Carrier’s year-long roadshow in France for the Vector^® eCool – the first engineless, all electric and fully autonomous refrigerated trailer system – demonstrated the benefits of transport electric refrigeration. In 2022, more than 30 customers in the French transport industry tested the refrigeration unit, helping them reduce their carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 75% during the trials, based on liters of fuel saved*. Carrier Transicold is part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.

Early in 2022, Carrier Transicold launched a national campaign with its customers, inviting them to test the first fully autonomous, all-electric, engineless refrigerated trailer system for semi-trailers, the Vector eCool. The aim was to allow customers to test the system in genuine operating conditions for 15 days.

As part of the trials, Carrier Transicold offered two 27- and 33-pallet refrigerated semi-trailers equipped with the Vector eCool. The trucks have covered more than 80,000 kilometers on France’s roads, traveling from Lille through Marseilles and Bordeaux to Nancy.

“After a few days of testing for a large distributor, we were pleasantly surprised,” said Elie Khalife, Director of Operations for Yellow Transports. “The unit’s autonomy, equipped with a battery pack, is perfect for our operational needs and our clients’ desire to adopt more virtuous transport solutions. All in all, it was a successful test.”

In total, 34 companies and transporters tested the Vector eCool during the roadshow. After each test, Carrier Transicold provided a comprehensive usage report, which included the number of kilometers traveled, energy consumption, telematics data, and quantity of CO₂ emissions saved.

“Vector eCool’s strength lies in the fact it is 100% electric and recharges as you drive, thanks here to the generator under the axle. I recommend this chiller unit because it ensures real comfort, both for customers during delivery and for drivers on the road. It fits perfectly with our sustainable development strategy,” said Kamel Terzi, Driver Instructor at Transports Biocoop.

Overall, the tests proved to be a positive experience for customers.

“Our impressions of the Vector eCool are good,” said Ralph Briend, Group Technical Coordinator, JeTransporte.com. “This new Carrier technology is interesting for our drivers and our clients alike. It’s a 100% electric, autonomous and quiet unit, with zero CO₂ emissions. We were expecting Carrier to provide solutions for our city-center distribution activity. With the Vector eCool, they’ve done just that.”

Launched in 2020, the Vector eCool was born of Carrier Transicold’s desire to offer solutions to reduce emissions, improve durability and increase efficiency throughout the refrigerated transport sector. Compatible with the engineless versions of Carrier Transicold’s Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E models, it combines the manufacturer’s E-Drive all-electric technology with a cutting-edge energy recovery and storage system. This innovative system converts the kinetic energy generated by the semi-trailer into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack to supply the chiller unit. This virtuous circle creates a fully autonomous system that produces no direct CO₂ or particle emissions. The unit is also fully compliant with PIEK certification (-60 dB).

The innovative Vector eCool system contributes to Carrier’s target of reducing its customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton as part of its 2030 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Goals.

To find out more about Carrier Transicold products and services, visit https://www.carrier.com/truck-trailer/fr/fr/  

*Extrapolation calculation based on the carbon base from French agency for environment Ademe - 1 litre of fuel burned = 3.17 kg CO2equivalent.  

About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve the transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a comprehensive range of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader for over 50 years, offering its clients around the world efficient, environmentally friendly refrigeration units for containers and power generators, as well as chillers for light commercial vehicles, trucks and semi-trailers. Carrier Transicold is part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global supplier of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit https://www.carrier.com/truck-trailer/fr/fr/. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain and on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.