07 August 2024
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Pharmaceutical and healthcare distributor Trans-Bridge Freight Services has taken delivery of its first Carrier Transicold Vector eCool unit.
The new Vector eCool is mounted to a 13.6-metre Gray & Adams trailer with a Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 refrigeration unit. The combination allows Trans-Bridge Freight Services to predominantly power the system using electricity harnessed from the kinetic energy generated by the trailer axle and brakes, with the option to use the unit’s diesel engine in case of emergency.
“Since welcoming our first Carrier unit in 2015, we’ve been consistently impressed with its performance and reliability, so bringing the advanced technology of the Vector eCool into the fleet was the next logical step,” said Brian Anderton, Director at Trans-Bridge Freight Services. “Even the most minute temperature change can have a significant impact on the products we transport, so set point control is vital. Bad weather regularly means our trailers can be stuck in the port or on the ferry for much longer than anticipated, so having the ability to revert to diesel power if required gives us extra peace of mind – this combination makes the Vector eCool the ideal product for our needs.”
The Vector eCool system was the industry’s first fully autonomous electric refrigeration system, producing no direct carbon dioxide or particulate emissions. The Vector eCool is also PIEK-compliant, which combined with its emissions performance, makes it the ultimate solution for tightening inner city and urban regulations, while creating a more harmonious working environment for drivers. The trailers can be plugged into the electrical grid when parked and are fully charged in two hours using a standard five pin, three-phase standby plug.
“The Vector eCool is an ideal fit for customers like Trans-Bridge Freight that need to transport temperature-sensitive cargo,” said Geoff Fearnley-Hill, National Key Account Manager at Carrier Transicold UK. “The battery system ensures the Vector HE 19 operates with the same level of performance as the standard setup, but having the hybrid option in this case highlights the sheer flexibility it can provide operators.”
The Vector HE 19 combines Carrier Transicold’s E-Drive technology with a multi-speed engine design that includes a fully hermetic scroll compressor and copper pipework, helping to deliver very high levels of refrigerant containment. The system offers annual F-Gas containment rates in excess of 95%, compared to rates typically lower than 85% for traditional diesel units reliant on mechanically belt driven open drive compressor technology.
The Vector eCool-mounted trailer will be based at the customer’s headquarters in Manchester, where it will be used to collect orders from Trans-Bridge Freight Services’ pharmaceutical customers for delivery to the business’ Antrim facility in Northern Ireland, clocking up to 90,000 miles annually.
