Family-owned Cadwallader has added a Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe COOL to its growing fleet, marking its first move into fully-electric refrigerated trailer rental.

The Shropshire-based business opted for the zero-emission box body semi-trailer from Schmitz Cargobull to complement its range of conventionally powered rental trailers, helping the firm meet customers’ evolving needs.

Joe Cadwallader, Business Development Manager, says: “If you went back five years fully-electric refrigerated trailers were vanishingly rare. Now we have excellent options such as the S.KOe COOL. However, if you want to hire an electric reefer, provision remains limited.

“At the same time there’s strong demand to be environmentally savvy, so much so that if a haulier is tendering without a sustainability policy in place and products to support it, they are at an instant disadvantage. We wanted to address this and add new capabilities to our business, which comprises one of the largest refrigerated trailer rental fleets in the UK.”

The deal was facilitated by Geoff Ward, Regional Sales Manager for the North West, Wales and Midlands at Schmitz Cargobull. “Geoff came to see us in person when he took on the account. He listened to us, understood what we needed, and we can’t fault the service we’ve received since,” adds Cadwallader.

Schmitz Cargobull’s fully-electric refrigerated S.KOe COOL delivers sustainable and emission-free transportation. The complete package of a semi-trailer with S.CU ep85 refrigeration unit, battery system, power electronics, electric generator axle and TrailerConnect® telematics plus additional digital services, work in unison to lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption, as well as cutting the total cost of ownership.

The S.KOe COOL’s electrified trailer axle recuperates energy during braking, among other processes, extending the cooling unit’s operating time or reducing the recharging time of the battery via the power grid. This also reduces waiting times at distribution centres.

Thanks to three pre-defined modes (ECO, STANDARD and SAFE), the semi-trailer can be optimised according to the customer’s usage conditions and objectives. ECO mode ensures maximum energy and cost efficiency during refrigerated transport. STANDARD mode delivers cost-efficient protection against cargo spoilage, while SAFE mode provides maximum protection against spoilage.

“Incorporating the electric generator axle with a battery, so that you don’t have to plug anything in, makes the S.KOe COOL a strong proposition. We also know from experience that Schmitz Cargobull products are well built and long lasting, so it made perfect sense to expand our capabilities as a business with this smart new trailer,” says Cadwallader.

All S.KO COOL semi-trailers come with optional Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) functionality included. For a fee, EBPMS enables hauliers to enhance road safety, reduce vehicle downtime, meet UK legislative compliance and, ultimately, save money.

Cadwallader is led by brothers David and John Cadwallader. As well as trailer sales and rental, it offers maintenance services and annual tests from its main site in Oswestry, Shopshire.