Thermo King announced 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
