Thermo King, Minneapolis, partnered with Chanje Energy, a Los Angeles-based company that creates sustainable solutions to improve the last-mile, to create a fully integrated refrigerated version of its V8100 all-electric last-mile delivery van. The van showcases a Thermo King V-520 RT refrigeration unit and ThermoLite solar panels.

"Our work with Chanje is one of several examples of how we are strategically focusing our investments and partnerships to evolve technology that will innovate our products to deliver the right solutions, at the right time, for our global customer base," says Dane Taival, vice president and general manager, Transport Solutions North America, Woodstock, Ga.

Thermo King is said to be the first company to offer European customers a hybrid and non-diesel truck and trailer refrigeration unit solution.

This movement is expanding into other regions. For instance, in North America, Thermo King partnered with several leading chassis original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Chanje, to demonstrate all-electric solutions in a variety of capacities and gather important input from the field to optimize future product offerings.

“In the U.S., we are seeing increasing demand for medium duty, last-mile refrigerated solutions due to a steady increase in consumers doing their shopping online and expecting fast home deliveries,” says Ian Televik, director of marketing, Chanje. “This was a key reason we partnered with Thermo King to create a vehicle to meet this ever-growing demand.”