Thermo King Starts Production of the New Fully Electric E-500e for Electric Light Commercial Vehicles

New model in the flagship E-Series range for urban and inner-city deliveries. 100% electric powered for seamless operations with e-LCVs. Highly efficient and sustainable solution to reduce carbon emissions.

Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, announced today the next step in launching their fully electric
E-Series designed for electric light commercial vehicles (LCV). The company is starting the production of the new E-500e single and multi-temperature models for fleet operators looking for electric edge in inner city and urban deliveries.

“With the E-500e model, we deliver an all-electric solution that extends the limits of what is possible today, and help our customers do the same,” said Davide Fusciani, product manager Thermo King. ”The E-Series is not only 100% electric, but also energy-efficient at heart, with an unmatched cooling capacity and an ideal use for urban areas.”

“For this model, we went back to the drawing board, keeping our customers’ and the environment’s needs at heart. With the European Union calling for CO₂ emissions from new trucks to be cut by 90% by 2040, we give our customers solutions that help them align with this transition and future proof their operations. We are now starting the production of the E-500e single and multi-temperature units, and more models will follow,” said Davide Fusciani.

Energy-efficiency at heart

The E-500e is designed to extract the full potential of electrically powered refrigeration while ensuring the lowest possible impact on the battery and range of the electric vehicle. Custom-designed inverter technology, a patented power control system and real-time communication between the unit and the vehicle maximise the cooling performance, energy efficiency and optimal power supply with minimal impact on the vehicle’s autonomy.

100% electric operations.

The E-500e is powered directly by the vehicle’s battery, eliminating the need to invest in an additional battery pack or shore connection module. Drivers can keep their refrigeration unit running while their battery electric vehicle (BEV) is charging or stationed at a delivery stop.

Unmatched performance levels

A brand-new, high-speed compressor with RPM independent of the vehicle’s speed generates new levels of electric cooling capacity up to 4.5 kW and both cooling and heating modes to fit customers’ multiple application needs.

Ultimate operational flexibility across the last mile

The E-500e is fully compliant with LEZ, ULEZ and ZEZ emission zones, as well as diesel-ban areas leading the way to flexible and efficient operations with day and night access into any city centre.

Compact design for increased payload

The units are easy to install on panel vans, chassis cab trucks and other types of vehicle conversions thanks to the compact design, which delivers high performance with half the weight of an equivalent legacy unit. Lower weight means a reduced impact on the battery-electric vehicle’s range and maximizes the vehicle’s payload, increasing operational flexibility and bottom line.

Sustainable ambitions

The new E-Series unit is designed to answer the challenges of e-LCVs and inner-city deliveries such as how to keep temperature control performance high with minimal energy consumption, how to offer cost-effective solution to a high investment choice, and how to reduce the refrigeration unit’s impact on the range of the BEV. The E-500e translates these challenges into a highly efficient and sustainable solution.

Providing electric solutions for refrigerated transportation is part of Thermo King’s and Trane Technologies’ overall approach to reducing carbon emissions. It aligns with the company’s bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons.