3 Tips to plan and maximize the range of your electric transport refrigeration units

When upgrading your transport refrigeration units to go electric, the most common questions are related to range, battery management, and cargo safety.

• How do I power my electric unit and ensure enough range and flexibility for my deliveries?
• What are my backup plans to keep sensitive cargo safe?
• How can drivers charge while on-route?

Effective planning allows you to maximize your electric units’ capacity and provide consistent temperature management from end to end. These three key activities help fleet managers to stay prepared and alleviate range anxiety:

• Calculating range to plan your routes
• Keeping backup power sources on hand
• Leveraging alternative power sources that recover energy

Here’s how each of these activities operate together seamlessly to keep your electric fleets powered and ready for the road.

Tip 1: Calculate unit range to plan routes

Today charging becomes an important consideration for fleet managers who plan transport routes. 

The simplest way to plan a route is to know the temperature requirements of your cargo, then calculate the unit range based on temperature setting. As part of the calculation, consider whether:

• Your cargo has ultra-sensitive requirements, necessitating continuous airflow mode;
• Or, whether the power-saving CycleSentry start-stop mode is a good fit.

As the final step, lay out your route distance and the estimated time spent on the road to see if you have enough range for your cooling needs. If your calculations suggest you need more capacity to cover your route, don’t fear. There are simple backups to keep your cargo cooled and peace of mind protected.

Tip 2: Keep backup power sources on hand

It’s always wise to have a backup plan, especially if distances are extended, outdoor temperatures are soaring or cargo cannot tolerate any degree of temperature fluctuation.

Since Thermo King electric units are not tied to engine power, keeping independent battery packs on hand provides flexibility. Fleet managers can monitor unit battery depletion rates remotely via the TracKing platform, signaling drivers if and when they need to swap in a fresh pack. Drivers also have access to this data, but at the same time, having remote support allows them to stay focused on road safety.

For overnight trips, map out stopping points that offer battery charging and plan trips around these stations. Knowing where to charge along your route can relieve range anxiety and ensure drivers don’t find themselves in an unexpected situation.

That said, there are alternative energy sources that allow your units to be powered by the road and protect battery health over time – cue, the Thermo King AxlePower energy recovery system!

Tip 3: Recover energy from driving and braking

As an enhancement to unit electrification, tapping into innovative power sources—such as AxlePower—extends the range of your fleet. AxlePower is a trailer solution that combines an ePower axle with Thermo King’s Energ-e Pack and Smart Power Management. The system recovers energy from driving and braking, storing it in the Energ-e Pack battery to power the refrigeration unit. No emissions, and no charging stops are necessary in many cases.

“This trailer demonstrates transformative logistics technology that can help revolutionize the way we refrigerate goods on our roads,” said Esha Mansingh, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for sub-Saharan Africa at DP World. ”It represents a significant step towards achieving sustainable and responsible logistics practices.”

Ready for the electric future?

While electrification seems like a big step, ensuring enough range and flexibility is actually very manageable. Start small by switching to electric transport refrigeration units. Then, consider ensuring no energy goes to waste and extending the life of your batteries with AxlePower.

Want to try AxlePower with no upfront capital investment? Thermo King provides fully equipped, road-ready trailers with flexible terms to rent, extend and buy. Request a quote today.