L. Stroetmann Lebensmittel, a prominent German food retailer and wholesale distributor and a partner of the EDEKA Group, a major German supermarket group, has embarked on a pioneering mission to reduce carbon emissions across its supply chain. The company has initiated a comprehensive trial of delivery vehicles powered by diverse and eco-friendly technologies. This initiative aligns with Stroetmann’s commitment to sustainability and its vision for a greener future.
Frigoblock, a leading name in transport refrigeration units across Europe and a brand under Thermo King, has joined hands with Stroetmann to provide electric transport refrigeration for the new delivery vehicles. With a longstanding relationship, Frigoblock and Stroetmann share a commitment to innovate for a sustainable future.
The delivery vehicles being evaluated by Stroetmann feature distinct powertrain technologies as part of their endeavor to select the most effective solutions for their future fleet. The trial encompasses two hydrogen-powered Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks, electric Mercedes-Benz eActros trucks, and a trailer equipped with Frigoblock’s HKe unit and Thermo King’s AxlePower energy recovery system.
Franz Gerhard Jungkamp, Division Manager Operations and Logistics at L. Stroetmann Lebensmittel, underscored the company’s holistic approach to sustainability, stating, “When designing our new fresh food logistics center, currently under construction, we planned for the use of different vehicle powertrain technologies and adopted different charging and tank infrastructure. By testing these new vehicles, we want to establish which technology works best for our operations and for what type of routes.”
Jungkamp further emphasized the importance of collaborating with experts, saying, “To find the right solutions that would seamlessly work with these trucks and trailers ensuring reliable, efficient and purely electric refrigeration, we worked with our long-standing partners at Thermo King and Frigoblock. Their expertise in electrification, bespoke approach and commitment helped us to put these vehicles on the road and hopefully find what we hope to be flexible and future-proof solutions for our fleet.”
The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks, equipped with Frigoblock FK25i units, began operations in late 2022. These units minimize energy-consuming components and optimally utilize the vehicle’s battery capacity, contributing to maximizing the truck’s range. The Mercedes-Benz eActros trucks, also featuring Frigoblock FK25i units, have been delivering food since April 2022. These trucks have been meticulously designed to meet the electrical requirements of the eActros, ensuring energy-efficient refrigeration.
The refrigerated trailer, featuring the Frigoblock HKe unit and Thermo King AxlePower system, harnesses energy recovered by the trailer’s axle during routine operations to power the refrigeration unit. This innovative system ensures low or zero-emission and autonomous trailer refrigeration, aligning with the commitment to environmental responsibility.
This partnership reflects Stroetmann’s commitment to sustainability and supports the ambitious Gigaton Challenge, an initiative by Thermo King and Trane Technologies to reduce one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) from their customers’ carbon footprints by 2030. As Stroetmann and its partners push the boundaries of innovation, the trials represent a crucial step towards a more sustainable and greener future for the transport industry.
