FreshLinc testing Ecogen system

United Kingdom-based cold chain specialist FreshLinc is testing Hultsteins’ Ecogen refrigeration system as part of the company’s ongoing campaign to reduce diesel emissions and running costs in its temperature-controlled fleet.

Hultsteins, based in Sweden, said FreshLinc is testing the system ahead of the UK’s red diesel rebate changes set for April 2022.

Ecogen, manufactured in the UK by Hultsteins and designed for use with truck or tractor units, is a slim-fit hydraulic drive generator that connects to the engine’s PTO (power take-off) and plugs in to any refrigeration unit with mains electric operation, Hultsteins said.

Fuel consumption and emissions from the diesel refrigeration unit are said to be virtually eliminated, while the system generates a constant 400-volt, 3-phase electrical power to the same standard as the mains supply.

“We knew we had to come up with a more cost-effective solution for when the rebate on gas oil is withdrawn,” said Andy Marchant, FreshLinc’s fleet engineer. “Plus, as part of our ongoing policy toward environmental protection, we are keen to see how much the system can cut the level of pollution associated with conventional diesel fridge engines.”

Hultsteins calculates that an average fridge system consuming around 3-5 liters of diesel per hour and running for 2,500 hours per annum will produce approximately 26,000 kilograms of carbon per year, and with an expected price hike of around 46 pence (58 cents) per liter for red diesel, this also amounts to an additional annual cost of around £5,700 ($7,141) per fridge trailer.

“These figures simply cannot be ignored,” said Graham Usher, managing director of Eco Truck Fridge and Hultsteins sales agent in the UK. “Not only from an environmental standpoint but also commercially, Ecogen can help temperature-controlled operators mitigate the potential impact of running a conventional fridge system.”

Although fitted to one of FreshLinc’s Scanias, Ecogen can be retrofitted easily to any truck with an engine drive PTO, the company said. Also, rather than intending to replace the existing refrigeration system, Ecogen works in tandem with the fridge unit to provide a cheaper and less harmful power source, while extending the life of the fridge.

“We operate around 400 vehicles and 1,000 trailers throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, delivering temperature-sensitive products around the clock,” Marchant said. “And as leaders in temperature-controlled supply chain management, we continually look for sustainable solutions and this one potentially fits our operating model.”

Marchant says the initial three-month test will predominantly be for chilled deliveries to the retail sector and the system will also be compared to their container fleet, which uses underslung Gensets to power the fridge.

“During the lock-down period, we organized numerous ‘Zoom’ meetings with Graham Usher and our operations director, Lee Juniper, and apart from anything else, Hultsteins’ ‘can-do’ attitude toward problem solving encouraged us to trial the system,” Marchant said. “They say ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating,’ so naturally we are keen to see how our vehicles’ MPG and fridge units’ fuel consumption are affected over the coming weeks.”