STI (Deutschland) GmbH, a subsidiary of STI Freight Management GmbH, has committed itself to electromobility in its fleet. For this reason, the company has now taken delivery of the first fully electric Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe reefer semi-trailer with an electric transport cooling unit and generator axle for everyday operations in the multi-temp sector. This makes STI the first company in Germany to operate the S.KOe on coordinated routes in a field test. If the fully electric reefer semi-trailer stands the test, the company intends to invest in further e-trailers in the future.
As a logistics company operating throughout Europe, STI is aware of its responsibility in shaping a more sustainable future. “We don’t just want to raise awareness that something needs to change, we want to be proactive and use technological solutions to significantly reduce our CO2 emissions. That’s why we decided early on to use an fully electric S.KOe reefer semi-trailer from Schmitz Cargobull,” explains Drazan Malesevic, Managing Director of STI (Deutschland) GmbH.
“We want to understand how the trailer works in everyday operations and, through consistent data collection over the next two years, determine how sustainable the e-trailer is in our business segment, taking into account the highest qualitative requirements. In this we work together closely with Schmitz Cargobull. If the testing is successful, we will equip most of our fleet with e-trailers in the future. This potentially means that more than 200 trailers would legitimately carry the Zero Emission logo,” adds Oliver Exner (Senior Operations Manager STI).
Schmitz Cargobull is currently delivering the first fully electric semi-trailers for everyday operations. The reefer semi-trailer handed over to STI is an S.KOe COOL SMART with an electric axle as well as an electric cooling unit with integrated power electronics and a battery system.
The all-electric S.CUe cooling unit is designed for emission-free cooling and heating of the freight in the multi-temp range. The S.CUe has a cooling capacity of up to 15,900 W and a heating capacity of 9,100 W. Batteries are installed in the place of the diesel tank between the landing gear.
In addition, the trailer is equipped with an electrified Schmitz Cargobull trailer axle which, among other things, recuperates energy during braking processes and thus reduces the charging times of the battery via the power supply network. On a trailer without an electrified axle the battery is not recharged when the vehicle is in motion. In contrast, a trailer with a generator axle recharges the battery during the journey, minimising the need for recharging via the power supply network at the distribution centre. This also reduces waiting times at the distribution centres.
The Schmitz Cargobull TrailerConnect telematics system, which is integrated in the vehicle as standard, can be used to monitor the battery charge status, the remaining range and the remaining charging time via the telematics portal.