Scottish hauler McLaughlan Transport recently fitted the first of three Hultsteins Ecogen systems to one of three new DAF 105 XF tractors.
The company says the new equipment will help them make significant cuts in fuel consumption, while extending the working life of their existing diesel refrigeration units and greatly reducing harmful emissions.
“We ordered the new units with a factory-fitted PTO (power take-off) so the Ecogen system could be put to work straight away,” said George McLaughlan, managing director for McLaughlan. “We are the first in Scotland to benefit from Hultsteins’ onboard generators and with the use of gas oil for diesel-powered refrigeration units stopping on April 1, the price of fuel is going to rocket.
“Plus, with carbon emissions now high on the environmental list of concerns, it seems like the best thing to do.”
McLaughlan also expects Ecogen to power his diesel units for at least 10 years, and over that time, maintenance, fuel, and vehicle downtime will all be decreased. Plus, although he may see a slight increase in fuel consumption from the tractors, he also anticipates the harmful emissions from the diesel refrigeration unit will be virtually eliminated.
“Whichever way you look at it, we will definitely be cutting running costs, because the diesel fridge engines will no longer be required when the Ecogens are running,” he said.
Hultsteins, based in Sweden, has been designing and producing hydraulic and electric-drive transport refrigeration systems for nearly 60 years. Now, with diesel consumption under increasing scrutiny, retailers and transport operators are using the Ecogen hybrid system to validate their respective environmental objectives, the company said.
“The system generates a constant 400-volt, three-phase electrical power to the same standard as the mains supply,” McLaughlan added. “That transforms the existing diesel TRU into a hybrid solution that can run any marque of diesel fridge and fit to any tractor with a PTO.”
Specializing in temperature-controlled transport but also offering a wide range of general haulage, consolidation, and storage services for supermarkets and producers throughout Europe, McLaughlan Transport also moves a significant number of ISO containers from ‘farm to dock,’ containing temperature-sensitive cargo.
“This is where the Ecogen system will really benefit our customers,” McLaughlan said.
“Normally, the fridge systems on these ISO containers require an electric plug-in and of course when they are on the road, unless the trailer has an on-board genset, the load will not remain temperature controlled. With Ecogen, however, Hultsteins has provided a special converter so the suzi can simply plug straight in and keep driving the fridge. Currently, we are the only transporter who can provide this facility.”
Hultsteins support partner in Scotland, Glasgow-based refrigeration service provider Transcool Scotland, fitted the Ecogen system, and from their 5,000-square-foot, fully equipped workshops will provide ongoing service for McLaughlan and all other operators of Hultsteins equipment in Scotland and the border regions of England.
Hultsteins parts, meanwhile, can be ordered from the company’s parts partner, Myriad Parts, which provides a fast-response delivery service throughout the U.K.
Hultsteins’ electric generation and hydraulic refrigeration systems are widely used throughout Europe since the 1960s and in recent times are becoming increasingly popular in the U.K. due to their simplicity of installation and fast payback, the company said.
“With this typical application, McLaughlan Transport and all temp-controlled trailer operators can expect to extend the life of existing fridge units and cut costs, while seeing a return on investment in as little as 18 months,” said Graham Usher, Hultsteins’ managing director for the U.K. and Ireland. “And what’s more, if the truck comes with its PTO already fitted, we can install a new Ecogen in around eight hours.”
