Schmitz Cargobull has officially launched its all-electric box body semi-trailer – the S.KOe COOL – in the UK & Ireland. Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer has developed the reefer semi-trailer with e-axle generator to help operators meet increasingly strict emissions regulations.

The S.KOe COOL is equipped with the fully electric S.CU ep85 cooling unit with integrated power electronics, a battery system and an electric generator axle, enabling 100 per cent emissions-free operation. The electrified semi-trailer is also extremely quiet, ideal for early-morning and late-evening deliveries in urban areas.

Colin Maher, Managing Director Schmitz Cargobull UK & Ireland, says: “The S.KOe COOL is the perfect choice for businesses who are leading the charge towards a cleaner and greener transport sector. We are delighted to be able to introduce the fully electric semi-trailer across the UK & Ireland, providing our customers with a truly sustainable solution for their temperature-controlled operations.”

The S.KOe COOL was introduced to members of the press and hundreds of customers at an event held at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, alongside other Schmitz Cargobull products ideally suited to the retail sector, including its M.KO refrigerated truck body and the S.KO CITY box body semi-trailer.

Already in operation for more than 50 customers across Europe, last year the S.KOe COOL achieved overall vehicle type approval by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrtbundesamt) after meeting all the relevant statutory safety, environmental and production requirements of the EU – making Schmitz Cargobull the first manufacturer to gain type approval for a fully-electric refrigerated semi-trailer with an e-axle.

Its electrically operated S.CU ep85 cooling unit is designed to cool and heat freight without generating any emissions, offering a cooling output of up to 15,800 W and a heating output of 10,500 W. Batteries on the landing gear replace the diesel tank and also offer customers the chance to install an extra pallet cage with space for 36 pallets. The payload of the fully electric reefer box body with a battery and electric axle is around the same as that of a refrigerated semi-trailer with a diesel unit. The additional weight of the battery is almost completely balanced out by the removal of the generator.

The electrified Schmitz Cargobull trailer axle recuperates energy during braking, among other processes, extending the cooling unit’s operating time or reducing the recharging time of the battery via the power grid. This also reduces waiting times at distribution centres. An intelligent battery charging management function ensures that the battery’s charge level remains as high as possible to provide greater reliability when the semi-trailer is stationary, such as in traffic jams.

Thanks to three pre-defined modes (ECO, STANDARD and SAFE), the semi-trailer can be optimised according to the customer’s usage conditions and objectives. ECO mode ensures maximum energy and cost efficiency during refrigerated transport. STANDARD mode delivers cost-efficient protection against cargo spoilage, while SAFE mode provides maximum protection against spoilage.

The modes can be selected via the display and keypad on the transport cooling unit or via the Schmitz Cargobull TrailerConnect® telematics portal and app.

The generator performance of the electrified axle is precisely matched to the requirements of the cooling unit. It is fully integrated into the Schmitz Cargobull telematics set-up, enabling the respective system status such as the battery charge level, remaining range and charging time, to be monitored via the TrailerConnect® portal.