Spanish Trailer Fleets Embrace Thermo King AxlePower Self-Charging Electric Transport Refrigeration

Three leading Spanish transport companies – Barquín y Otxoa, Disfrimur and JCARRION – join the move toward zero-emission trailer logistics with AxlePower-equipped fleets.

Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, is celebrating the rapid adoption of the Advancer™ AxlePower self-charging electric refrigeration system across trailer fleets.  The recent introduction of this solution by Barquín y Otxoa, Disfrimur, and JCARRION is accelerating the shift toward zero-emission, sustainable logistics in the Spanish market, and across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Thermo King AxlePower is an innovative technology for trailer refrigeration units that can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 12 tonnes per year for distribution trailers. The system recovers energy from the vehicle during braking or when going downhill, without impacting the tractor’s fuel consumption. This energy is stored in battery packs and reused to power the refrigeration unit, eliminating the need for connection to external power grids.

Designed for seamless integration into existing fleets, AxlePower is tractor-independent and delivers low-noise, high-powered performance in both hybrid and fully electric refrigeration units. The system leverages proprietary smart power management, dynamically monitoring road conditions to maximise kinetic and thermal energy recovered by the trailer’s e-axle, and disengages the e-axle during uphill climbs to avoid unnecessary fuel consumption. AxlePower-equipped trailers have already proven themselves in a wide range of climates, from Scandinavia to South Africa, with over 5 million kilometres covered.

“Pursuing a cleaner, better performing cold chain reduces not just environmental footprint but operating costs, boosting efficiency and competitiveness for our customers,” said Claudio Zanframundo, president Thermo King EMEA Truck, Trailer, Bus and Global Marine, Rail, Air. “A third-party life cycle assessment of our Advancer trailer units shows that fuel, energy, and refrigerant use account for 95% of total emissions, with 80% coming from fuel, 10% from refrigerant, and 5% from grid electricity. Reducing fuel consumption is therefore most powerful lever for cutting emissions and costs. That’s why Thermo King’s smart, connected, sustainable solutions like AxlePower are already helping customers meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s goals.”

Barquín y Otxoa is a logistics company with decades of experience, specialising in the national and international refrigerated transport of food products. The company operates a modern fleet of vehicles equipped with the latest technology, and is dedicated to quality, traceability, and sustainability across the supply chain. As part of their fleet upgrade, Barquín y Otxoa has incorporated a 100% electric refrigerated trailer equipped with a Thermo King Advancer-e refrigeration unit powered by the AxlePower system.

“Sustainability has become a strategic pillar for the logistics sector. Companies are seeking to reduce their environmental impact, improve energy efficiency, and adapt to new regulatory and societal requirement,” said Ricardo Barquín, Managing Director at Barquín y Otxoa. “We have been moving in this direction for years, integrating technological and operational solutions that reinforce a more responsible transport model. The addition of a fully electric refrigerated trailer reinforces our commitment, and that of our customer Lidl España, to decarbonization and emissions reduction in the supply chain. This project marks a new step toward responsible, innovative, sustainable, and future-ready logistics.”

Disfrimur, a family-owned transport and logistics company, has undertaken various initiatives in recent years that have significantly contributed to sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As part of its “Invisible Transport” strategy, the company aims to reduce its carbon footprint through continuous fleet renewal, the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, the incorporation of vehicles using alternative fuels, and the calculation, reduction, and offsetting of CO₂ emissions. As part of this approach, the company has recently added an Advancer AxlePower system refrigerated trailer into its fleet.

“By adopting AxlePower, we strengthen our fleet with a technology that combines innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, demonstrating how these solutions can be practically integrated into refrigerated transport,” said Juan Sanchez, Managing Director at Disfrimur. “The system gives us the flexibility to operate both on long-distance routes and in urban environments with environmental or noise restrictions, supporting our ‘Invisible Transport’ strategy and commitment to decarbonisation.”

JCARRION is a family-owned business group specialising in logistics and international temperature-controlled transport, particularly of fruit and vegetables. Owning a fleet exceeding 1,600 vehicles, the company invests in innovation and is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. To further empower its logistics capabilities, JCARRION, has also incorporated the AxlePower system into its trailer fleet.

“By adding the Thermo King AxlePower refrigerated trailer to the fleet, JCARRION is taking another step toward more sustainable logistics,” said Pedro Morales, Managing Director at JCARRION. “One of its key advantages of the Thermo King system is that it does not require stopping to recharge the batteries, as the generator axle autonomously recharges them while driving. This ensures a constant supply of energy to the refrigeration unit without interrupting operations, allowing us to maintain our existing routines while achieving greater sustainability and efficiency.”

With a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis tool, pan-European homologation, and long-term rental options, Thermo King customers across EMEA can proactively evaluate the features and performance based on their individual operations.  Thanks to the long-term rental opportunities, they can have a hands-on experience before committing to full-scale implementation. By simplifying integration and delivering measurable benefits, Thermo King is empowering businesses to transition towards sustainable and efficient electrically refrigerated transport.

The projects were fulfilled in partnership and collaboration with Frigicoll, Thermo King’s award-winning authorised dealer in Spain and Portugal.

“AxlePower technology, capable of generating and storing energy from the movement of the trailers themselves, represents a sustainable alternative that can meet a wide range of needs within the transport sector,” said Juan Rigol, CEO of Frigicoll. “As consumers place increasing importance on sustainability, low and zero-emission supply chains are becoming essential drivers of competitiveness and commercial value.”