Carrier Transicold’s new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Supra® multi-temperature refrigeration unit made its world premiere at the Solutrans Show this week. The new, high-performance refrigeration solution will significantly reduce emissions while also increasing operator efficiencies. Carrier Transicold, which operates in France as Carrier Transicold France, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
“At Carrier Transicold, our focus has always been on developing sustainable refrigeration solutions for our customers,” said Jean-Pascal Vielfaure, managing director, Southern Europe, Carrier Transicold. “We expect the new CNG-powered Supra unit will help speed up the energy transition in urban transport refrigeration, particularly as the use of diesel may be increasingly limited in some European cities.”
Designed to use a single fuel source to power both the engine on a CNG-powered truck and the refrigeration unit, the Supra unit requires just a single refill point for both, which can save time and money and help increase operator productivity. But the benefits extend beyond just a reduction in overall costs, there is an environmental component as well. Using natural gas enables significant reductions in emissions — 95 per cent fewer particulate emissions, 70 per cent fewer nitrogen oxide emissions and 20 per cent fewer CO2 emissions.
Petit Forestier, a leading refrigeration rental company in Europe, has already trialed the new Carrier Transicold innovation.
“With our face to the future and eyes on tomorrow’s world, Petit Forestier strives to fully integrate sustainable development throughout the company's life cycle,” said Arnaud de Cespedes, president, Petit Forestier. “Working with Carrier Transicold and Iveco, we are excited about this innovative CNG-powered solution because it combines environmental sustainability with efficient operational technology for our customers.”
Petit Forestier, along with Iveco, is now showcasing the first Eurocargo 16-ton rigid truck that runs exclusively on natural gas for both its drive engine and refrigeration unit. It can be seen at the Petit Forestier stand 4P205.
Transports Perrenot, a large French transport company and delivery provider for Carrefour, a mass retailer in France, have also pioneered Carrier Transicold’s CNG-powered Supra, using the unit on a 19-ton rigid Iveco Stralis truck for deliveries to Carrefour stores throughout Paris.
The Supra unit is ideal for urban distribution, offering fresh and frozen multi-temperature applications in up to three compartments. Fitted with an independent tank for the natural gas engine of the refrigeration unit, the CNG-powered unit maintains cold chain integrity, allowing for full autonomy of the refrigeration unit even when the truck is idling.
In addition, CNG refrigeration unit engines reduce noise and vibrations, as well as fumes and smoke as compared to compression ignition diesel engines, which helps improve operating conditions for the driver and the communities they serve. Noise reduction is important for truck deliveries in high density urban areas in the morning or late at night, as more municipalities across Europe enact noise ordinances.
The Supra CNG-powered units will be in full production by November 2018.
For more information on Carrier Transicold and its products and services, visit www.carriertransicold.fr. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.carriertransicold.fr. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.