Swiss Dairy Company Deploys Three Battery-Powered Refrigerated Trailers
The trailers use dedicated onboard batteries to power refrigeration, preserving the range of Emmi's fully electric delivery trucks.
Swiss dairy company Emmi Schweiz has deployed three electrified refrigerated trailers from Nivalis Energy Europe to reduce emissions from its chilled-product distribution fleet.
What Happened
The trailers are now operating on live distribution routes, powering their refrigeration systems using dedicated onboard battery packs rather than diesel-powered Transport Refrigeration Units. Manufactured by Ackermann Fahrzeugbau and equipped with Mitsubishi TEU1300SA refrigeration units and seven rooftop solar panels, each trailer travels an average of 200-400 kilometers per day with refrigeration running approximately 6-10 hours daily. Because the trailers carry their own battery system for cooling, Emmi's fully electric delivery trucks retain full driving range for propulsion.
Why It Matters
Refrigerated transport presents a particular electrification challenge: conventional refrigerated trailers draw power from the truck's drivetrain or run separate diesel generators, both of which reduce overall efficiency. Nivalis Energy Europe's approach addresses this by isolating refrigeration load onto a dedicated battery platform. For fleet operators like Emmi running urban distribution routes with tight delivery windows, maintaining driving range while keeping products cold is critical to operational viability.
The Bottom Line
Emmi reports the trailers have performed reliably since entering service in June and expects the deployment data to inform its longer-term fleet electrification strategy. Nivalis Energy Europe emphasizes a modular approach—allowing fleets to configure combinations of battery, solar, and regenerative e-axle technologies based on their specific operational needs.
