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Monday, April 3rd, 2023

Solar-Powered Refrigerated Trailers Could Eliminate Millions of Tons of CO2 Emissions

Author:     Lioyd Alter and Haley Mast
Source:     Treehugger
Publication Date:     August 2, 2021 07:14PM EDT
 Link: Solar-Powered Refrigerated Trailers Could Eliminate Millions of Tons of CO2 Emissions
Stephan:  

Here is some innovative excellent good news. When I say that transitioning out of the carbon power era successfully will lead to a whole new spectrum of technologies, this is the sort of thing I mean. 

Solar powered refrigerated trailer. Credit Treehugger

Reefers, or refrigerated trailers, are cooled by diesel fuel, with electricity from either the tractor’s generator or an Auxilary Power Unit (APU) mounted on the trailer. An idling diesel tractor burns a gallon of fuel per hour; an APU, 4/10ths of a gallon. According to XL Fleet, which makes “electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets,” about 50,000 diesel-powered reefers are sold every year in the U.S.

XL Fleet recently announced it is working with eNow, which makes solar and battery systems for electric Transport Refrigeration Units (eTRUs).

“XL Fleet and eNow are collaborating on the design and development of the system that will power eTRUs, as a replacement for conventional diesel-powered systems. XL Fleet is developing the high-capacity integrated lithium-ion battery and power electronics technology that will be installed underfloor on the Class 8 trailer, providing approximately 12 hours or more of run time between charges. eNow will integrate this system into its architecture, including solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer to maintain the battery charge […]

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