Thermo King announced that DP World logistic group and food retailer Woolworths are the first in Africa to operate the Thermo King AxlePower energy recovery system on the road. Advancing sustainability within the African transport sector, the new Thermo King refrigerated trailer has commenced operations on Woolworth’s route between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The AxlePower system has proved its resilience by operating efficiently in extreme conditions, providing constant cooling, with uninterrupted airflow inside the trailer in ambient temperatures exceeding 40°C.
Over a distance of 15,000km covered so far, the system has operated in electric mode, without engaging the unit’s diesel engine, for more than 97% of the time. The system also required no connection to the grid to compensate for any lack of energy nor to balance the battery charge. Estimations indicate that the AxlePower will annually save up to 27 tonnes of CO2 compared to traditional diesel-powered trailer refrigeration systems.
“These projects marks an important milestone towards a more sustainable future for Africa’s transport and logistics sector,” said Ronnie Meechan, Regional Director Middle East and Africa at Thermo King. “In the rapidly growing South African market, the adoption of electrification and hydrogen technologies has become increasingly prominent in the pursuit of transporters looking to reduce their fuel consumption.”
Thermo King AxlePower is a result of a collaboration between Thermo King and BPW Bergische Achsen KG, a leader in running gears and mobility services for transport. AxlePower is a fully integrated, tractor independent system that combines BPW’s ePower axle with Thermo King refrigeration unit and power management technology. The AxlePower’s smart energy generating system delivers the power needed to run the trailer refrigeration unit by converting energy recovered by the trailer’s axle during the vehicle’s routine operation.