ANOTHER R744

CARRIER Transicold has found another European supermarket to trial its R744 refrigerated trailer prototype, with German grocery chain Netto the first continental customer to give one a go.

Netto’s new trailer was displayed on the Rohr stand at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover in September before entering its three year field trial in use for regular store deliveries.

Based on Carrier’s Vector chassis with electrical drive taking power from the prime mover, the NaturaLINE reefer operates exclusively with R744 (CO2) refrigerant in a closed-loop system.

Carrier Transicold and Refrigeration Systems president David Appel said the company’s vision was “temperature-controlled units running on natural refrigerant in mainstream production”.

“Today, with the support of one of the largest German retailers in the food discount segment, we are another step closer.”

Netto head of corporate communication Christina Stylianou said the grocer was “eager to get involved” with the R744 trial and described the Carrier prototype as “a huge step forward for the industry”.

“We are excited about its potential for helping us to achieve our environmental and sustainability targets.”

British supermarket Sainsbury’s was first to trial Carrier’s R744 reefers, with three entering the fleet this year.

Sainsbury’s is also trialling a reefer cooled by a Dearman engine that uses liquid nitrogen as fuel.