Troy’s Electric Last Mile Partners with Thermo King for All-electric Refrigerated Delivery Vehicle

Electric Last Mile Inc. in Troy and Thermo King in Minneapolis, a brand of Trane Technologies in Ireland, have announced plans to build an all-electric refrigerated delivery vehicle.
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Troy's Electric Last Mile Inc. has partnered with Thermo King to build an all-electric refrigerated delivery vehicle using the E-200 all-electric refrigeration system and the Urban Delivery electric vehicle. // Courtesy of Thermo King
Troy’s Electric Last Mile Inc. has partnered with Thermo King to build an all-electric refrigerated delivery vehicle using the E-200 all-electric refrigeration system and the Urban Delivery electric vehicle. // Courtesy of Thermo King

Electric Last Mile Inc. in Troy and Thermo King in Minneapolis, a brand of Trane Technologies in Ireland, have announced plans to build an all-electric refrigerated delivery vehicle.

For the collaboration, Thermo King will integrate its E-200 all-electric refrigeration unit into the ELMS Urban Delivery electric vehicle. This will be a prototype of the first Class 1 commercial EV available in the United States.

“Together with Thermo King, a global leader in temperature control technologies for transport, we have the opportunity to expand the sustainability of the cold chain by electrifying the last mile delivery of fresh food and other perishable goods,” says James Taylor, co-founder and CEO of ELMS. “Our goal is to redefine all verticals of last mile delivery and the Urban Delivery EV prototype brings us closer to that transformation.”

Thermo King introduces electrification into the transport refrigeration industry more than two decades ago, with electric technologies in its marine, bus, and truck product lines. The E-200, which can be used in engine or battery powered vehicles, is a fully integrated unit that can be plugged in and ready to go quickly.

It offers a variable speed compressor that increases system reliability due to a lower number of start and stops it requires to function. It allows a user to decrease deviation from a set point, increasing the precision of the temperature control.

The power inverter — which converts D/C to A/C — increases operational efficiency and provides the constant capacity needed to keep the performance of the unit separate from the performance of the vehicle.

The power management system optimizes the supply and demand of power optimizes the supply and demand of power to adjust it based on need and available power. The controller also manages alarms related across all integrated components such as inverters, new electronics, and chargers.

“Electrification is the force behind Thermo King’s strategy to deliver smart, sustainable temperature-control solutions that will strengthen the cold chain and add value to our customers’ operations,” says Chris Tanaka, vice president of product management at Thermo King. “Partnering with a technology innovator such as ELMS advances our goal to meet the rapidly growing demand for home delivery in a more efficient and sustainable way.”

ELMS and Thermo King expect to pilot the Urban Delivery prototype with refrigerated transport customers, as well as have it on display at the Home Delivery Expo in Philadelphia, alongside partners Delivery Concepts Inc. in Elkhart, Ind. The prototype will also be on display at International Food Distributors Association’s annual events.

The Urban Delivery is the first Class 1 all-electric delivery vehicle, with 2,100 pounds max payload and a 150-mile range, the truck can be customized to any specification. ELMS is focused on redefining the last mile with efficient, connected, and customizable solutions.