Hultsteins, the British and Swedish hydraulic refrigeration and electric hybrid systems manufacturer, is advising temperature-controlled operators to seize the initiative and fit an engine drive PTO (power take off) to all new trucks and tractors specified for refrigerated transport so they can be prepared for the fuel price increase scheduled for next year.
Head of sales for the UK and Ireland, Graham Usher, explains why: “We are just 10 months away from HMRC’s withdrawal of the current rebate on red diesel for use in refrigerated transport. When this happens, the impact on fridge operators will be an overnight increase in diesel prices for their fridge units of around 100%.”
Currently, red diesel attracts duty at 11.14p per litre and this will increase to the current, white diesel level of 57.95p per litre in April 2022. This significant increase of 46.81p per litre will add many hundreds if not thousands of pounds extra cost, per year, per fridge, for all diesel fridge operators. However, operators can mitigate these cost increases and further decrease their current spend on diesel fuel, but to do so they must have an engine drive PTO, says Usher.
“Fitting an engine-drive PTO on all new vehicles will give operators the option to retrofit an electric generator.” Says Usher. “This does not replace the existing diesel refrigeration system but, instead, works in tandem with the fridge unit and generates electric at a constant 400V – even at idle speed. The generator transforms the diesel unit into a hybrid solution which will run any marque of diesel fridge on electric by utilising its built-in electric motor.”
According to Hultsteins, operators taking this course of action will benefit from reduced fuel consumption, reduced carbon, lower noise and a significant reduction in NOx and particulate emissions will drop by over 95%.
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