Tesco has extended its delivery fleet with 52 new vans featuring latest-generation E-200 refrigeration units from Thermo King.

The Thermo King refrigeration units in Tesco’s latest delivery vans are inverter-driven, enabling them to offer constant capacity and work with both electric and engine-powered vehicles

The supermarket giant was looking for an all-in-one transport refrigeration solution to maintain an unbroken cold chain to customers’ doorstep, even when the van’s ignition is switched off; a task now being met by the inverter-driven, full electric E-200 refrigeration units, which were delivered prior to lockdown.

Unlike typical direct-drive solutions designed for diesel combustion engines, the E-200 delivers constant capacity independently from the vehicles’ RPM. Enabled by the van’s auxiliary battery, it offers a hold-over feature that keeps the refrigeration unit operating without vehicle emissions while the driver stops for delivery, has a break or needs to turn off the vehicle for longer. This also allows for active Start/Stop functionality to save fuel, lower noise and vehicle emissions.

A further benefit of being inverter driven is that the E-200 can work with both electric and engine-powered vehicles.

“The technology of the E-200 gives our customers a unique mix of control, convenience, utilization, and reliability that help them improve their transport operations,” said Steve Williams, area sales manager at Thermo King. “The E-200 represents the next generation of our fully electric refrigeration units and has been generating very positive feedback from our customers. They benefit from efficient temperature management, zero-emission, low noise and can move foods and goods with maximum convenience for the people in urban areas.”