CMA CGM, in collaboration with Thermo King and reefer leasing firm SeaCube, is conducting trials on E-Coolpac batteries to electrify last-mile transport for refrigerated containers.
Typically, a 40-foot reefer container requires about 7kW of power. However, data from the Move to –15ºC group shows that increasing the temperature from -18ºC to -15ºC can lower power usage by approximately 10%.
During last-mile delivery, ‘clip-on’ or undermount diesel gensets are commonly used since a truck’s alternator cannot generate enough power to keep the container cool. The E-Coolpac, a battery pack designed for this purpose, can be retrofitted to container chassis in place of a diesel genset. Once charged from the grid, it delivers between 35 and 105kWh of power to the reefer container.
Critics of electrification point out that electricity sourced from national grids is not always clean, as many countries rely heavily on fossil fuels for energy generation. However, fossil power plants operate with much higher efficiency—typically between 50% and 60%—thanks to combined-cycle generation and waste-heat recovery, compared to the roughly 30% efficiency of on-site diesel gensets. This means even when grids are predominantly fossil-fueled, charging batteries from the grid produces significantly lower CO2 emissions. According to the ICCT, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) reduce lifecycle emissions by about two-thirds compared to petrol vehicles.
Claudio Zanframundo, president of Thermo King EMEA, emphasized the environmental and regulatory benefits of the Coolpac system, stating it enables “lower emissions and compliance with local regulations” for transporting refrigerated containers. Fabien Gresy-Aveline, VP of container fleet at CMA CGM, highlighted its transformative potential, describing the shift from diesel as a major step toward sustainable refrigerated transport.
