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The supermarket giant is trialling 100% solar-powered refrigerated un
WHAT’S THE STORY? Tesco has fitted a 13.6m refrigerated trailer with 12 lightweight solar panels and lithium batteries.
WHAT’S THE POINT? The move, which will help to power the unit with clean energy, should help to slash the HGV’s overall diesel usage by around 2,000 litres a year. It should also save around five tonnes of carbon annually.
WHO’S TECH IS THIS? The 100% solar powered trailers have been fitted with the Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions (MFS).
30 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 103 / WEDNESDAY 4TH MAY 2022
Available exclusively from Marshall, the Titan system’s design is capable of providing 100% free power to all makes of on-board refrigeration units and tail lifts on all vehicles sizes from vans, small trucks, to heavy commercial vehicles – both single- and multi-temperature. It is available for new vehicles, and is also suitable for retrofitting to existing wagons. MFS Managing Director, Mark Howell, commented: “With a significant trailer fleet, the successful use of solar powered refrigerated trailers within the Tesco distribution operation cannot be underestimated, in terms of its significantly positive environmental impact.”
WHAT IS TESCO SAYING ABOUT IT? Tesco’s Fleet Engineering Manager, Cliff Smith, said: “We’ve got 4,200 trailers in our distribution fleet transporting fresh goods. “Around 3,000 of those are refrigerated and, with a goal to bring carbon emissions to net zero by 2035 and the imminent removal of red diesel entitlements, we’ve had to look at the way our food gets to stores and customers. “As a business we have looked at various options and through our long-standing relationship with Marshall Fleet Solutions we decided to trial the use of the Titan system on our fleet.
