Thermo King, a brand of Trane Technologies, has introduced its latest innovation in transport temperature controls with the launch of the E-500e series. Designed specifically for electric light commercial vehicles, the E-500e offers electrically powered refrigeration while minimizing impact on the battery and EV range.
The E-500e addresses a common challenge faced by early electric vans, where powering refrigeration units directly from the vehicle’s battery could significantly reduce the vehicle’s autonomy. Thermo King has tackled this issue by incorporating custom-designed inverter technology, a patented power control system, and real-time communication between the unit and the vehicle.
According to Thermo King, these technological advancements maximize cooling performance, energy efficiency, and power supply with minimal impact on the vehicle’s autonomy. The compressor, with RPM independent of the vehicle’s speed, can generate an electric cooling capacity of up to 4.5 kW in both cooling and heating modes. This allows drivers to keep their refrigeration unit running while the battery-electric vehicle is charging or stationed at a delivery stop.
The E-500e units are designed for easy retrofitting on panel vans, chassis cab trucks, and other vehicle conversions. Thermo King claims that the compact design of the units, which weigh half as much as equivalent legacy units, reduces the impact on the battery-electric vehicle’s range and maximizes the vehicle’s payload. This, in turn, increases operational flexibility and bottom line for businesses.
“We went back to the drawing board for this model, keeping our customers’ and the environment’s needs at heart,” said Davide Fusciani, product manager of Thermo King. “We are now starting the production of the E-500e single and multi-temperature units, and more models will follow.”
Thermo King, originally a plumbing business established in 1885, evolved into a leading provider of innovative temperature control solutions. The company was incorporated after inventing a low-pressure steam heating system and later introduced groundbreaking products like Turbovac, which revolutionized large-building air conditioning systems. Thermo King became part of Trane Technologies in 1997.
In 2022, Thermo King partnered with Lion Electric to provide fully electrified refrigerated, dry freight, and aluminum stake body options for the Lion6 electric urban truck, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainable transport solutions.
