Refrigerated Carriers Finding Value With Electric-Powered Reefer Units
The use of electric power to refrigerate trailers is expected to surge in the coming years, according to some manufacturers and fleet operators. Government regulations to reduce fossil fuel emissions are a major force driving fleet adoption of electric trailer refrigeration units, also known as citrus, combined with the trucking industry’s drive to lower operating costs and reduce equipment maintenance demands. “There is a strong movement, in general, away from fossil fuel in the transportation and logistics industry to all-electric or hybrid-electric systems,” said Ian Fox, product manager for refrigerated vans at trailer manufacturer Wabash National Corp. “Electric-powered refrigeration systems are a part of that movement. Running a reefer unit on electricity is significantly cheaper than running on diesel fuel.” KeHE Distributors started an effort to electrify “as many distribution centers as possible about two years ago,” said Tom Harden, senior manager of fleet assets for the org