The essentials:
- Thermo King is adding Advancer S for semi-trailers and E-Volution S and E-Volution Undermount for trucks.
- The new units use low-GWP refrigerants and expand the company’s portfolio of fully electric systems.
- E-Volution units can also be installed on trucks powered by internal-combustion engines.
- AxlePower uses energy recovered at the semi-trailer axle to power an electric refrigeration unit.
Advancer S for semi-trailers
Thermo King’s key addition for semi-trailers is Advancer S, the latest development of the Advancer platform within the A-Series range. The new unit uses a low-GWP refrigerant to reduce its environmental impact while retaining the efficiency associated with the platform.
The Advancer platform is designed to limit energy consumption during operation while maintaining control of cargo temperatures. The S version also uses a lower-GWP refrigerant, providing an additional way to reduce emissions across the cold chain.
E-Volution S delivers fully electric refrigeration
The second launch is E-Volution S, a fully electric refrigeration system for heavy-duty trucks that is now also available with a low-GWP refrigerant.
By eliminating the separate diesel engine used to generate cooling, the technology can reduce fuel consumption and local emissions. An electric refrigeration system does not require a battery-electric truck: according to Thermo King, E-Volution units can be installed on both electric vehicles and trucks powered by internal-combustion engines.
This flexibility is relevant to fleets making a gradual transition and operating vehicles with different powertrain technologies at the same time.
E-Volution Undermount targets urban deliveries
The third new product is E-Volution Undermount, a fully electric refrigeration system installed beneath the chassis. Thermo King is targeting it particularly at food distribution and grocery retail operations, which are often concentrated in urban areas.
The underframe configuration expands installation options across different truck models and is suited to operations in which noise and tailpipe emissions are becoming increasingly important.
The E-Volution family complements the E-Series for light commercial vehicles, which has been expanded with additional models, as well as Advancer-e for semi-trailers. The portfolio also includes modular battery packs. For fleets that want to introduce these technologies without buying them outright, Thermo King offers a rental option through Thermo King Rental.
AxlePower recovers energy from the semi-trailer
On semi-trailers, electrification can also be supported by energy recovery. With AxlePower, energy generated while the vehicle is moving and braking is captured through the axle and used to recharge a battery that powers the Advancer-e electric unit.
The semi-trailer’s kinetic energy is converted into electricity to power the refrigeration unit, removing the need for the small independent diesel engine used in conventional refrigeration units. The system is already available for both purchase and rental.
EcoMode cuts consumption in diesel units
For fleets that continue to use diesel refrigeration equipment, Thermo King offers EcoMode across the Advancer family. The system adapts the unit’s operation to the load’s actual requirements, providing cooling when needed while maintaining temperature control.
According to the manufacturer, fuel consumption can fall by up to 50% compared with continuous operation, although results vary depending on the application and operating conditions.
What it means for operators
“One of the biggest myths is that electric refrigeration requires a fully electric vehicle. It doesn’t,” said Claudio Zanframundo, president of Thermo King EMEA and Asia Pacific, ahead of the IAA launch.
For fleets, the new range brings several practical benefits:
- electric refrigeration can be fitted to diesel trucks, so operators can cut the fuel used by refrigeration units before replacing their vehicles,
- units without a separate diesel engine are quieter and produce no local emissions, which matters for night-time deliveries and low- and zero-emission zones in cities,
- low-GWP refrigerants help operators prepare for tighter EU rules on fluorinated gases,
- rental through Thermo King Rental lets fleets test the technology without a large upfront investment.
For many fleets, the reefer unit may be the easiest place to start cutting emissions, long before the truck itself goes electric.
