Fruehauf NZ held its Sustainability, Innovation, Digitalisation Expo in Auckland this week, showcasing a range of new products. The main event, however, was the launch of the Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe Cool fully electric semi-trailer – the perfect way for the company to celebrate its eight-year partnership with Schmitz Cargobull.
The S.KOe Cool is billed as the most thermally efficient trailer in New Zealand, replacing traditional diesel-powered fridge units with an all-electric setup. Power is generated by a 20kW electric generative axle with recuperation.
This keeps the 32kWh battery at charge while driving, increasing the range and preventing unscheduled stops.The battery pack itself is incorporated into the trailer’s landing gear. It has a self-sufficient running time of approximately four-and-a-half hours and requires approximately two hours for a full charge.
The vehicle uses existing components from the Schmitz Cargobull modular product system, and a classic CEE three-phase connection is all that is needed for charging.
An electric refrigeration unit provides 15,800 watts cooling capacity and 10,500 watts heating capacity. The charging and battery management system ensures full practicality, so goods remain at temperature for the duration of the journey. The refrigeration circuit is identical to conventional refrigeration units.
Compared to a conventional fridge unit, the S.KOe Cool is only 100kg heavier. However, it returns 5% better efficiency.
The S.KOe trailer is available for customer trials.
“These products are one step on the ladder to change,” said Jeff Mear, managing director Fruehauf NZ.
“It’s new technology that we need to get to grips with. We want to be at the forefront.”
Naturally, with no diesel engine powering it, the fridge unit operates virtually silently. Maintenance is also significantly reduced. Finally, all vehicles are equipped with the TrailerConnect telematics portal as standard, which allows refrigeration unit control with setpoints for operation, temperature and alarm management. It provides information about the battery’s state of charge, the vehicle’s position and is used for route planning.
Read the full report in the upcoming September 2024 issue of New Zealand Trucking magazine.
