German transport refrigeration manufacturer ECOOLTEC has debuted T15, a new monotemperature propylene (R1270)/CO2 (R744) transport refrigeration unit designed for electric trucks, including rigid trucks, drawbar trailers and semi-trailers.
The T15 unit operates on the same design principle as the company’s multi-temperature TM182 unit but with a single evaporator, resulting in a more compact package. The company presented the new unit at IAA Transportation 2026, which was held September 15‒20 in Hanover, Germany.
“Many customers operate refrigerated vehicles exclusively with a single temperature zone and do not require the versatility of the TM182,” said Holger Dörre, ECOOLTEC’s CTO. “With the T15 we are providing them a model that is precisely tailored to this requirement.”
Like the TM182 unit, T15 incorporates a hermetically sealed primary propylene circuit mounted outside the truck body and connected via a brazed plate heat exchanger to a secondary CO2 circuit serving the evaporator inside the cargo hold. The circuits contain approximately 0.7kg of R1270 and 1kg of CO2, respectively. The T15 unit shares the same housing and installation position as the TM182.
What’s new: With ECOOLTEC’s new E2322 evaporator, the T15 is designed for single-chamber chilled or frozen transport and accommodates multiple-drop distribution routes, the company said.
- At an ambient temperature of 30°C (86°F), T15 offers 15kW (4.3TR) of cooling capacity at 0°C (32°F) and 8.3kW (2.4TR) at −20°C (−4°F).
- In addition to the T15, ECOOLTEC introduced a new remote control model for all of its transport refrigeration units. The more compact model can be positioned within the driver’s cab, including in a standardized DIN dashboard recess, or mounted inside or outside the refrigerated box body.
The compatibility: ECOOLTEC has developed solutions for electric-powered HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) from seven brands, including Mercedes-Benz eActros at ROHR Fahrzeugbau, Iveco eStralis and MAN eTGM, the company told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
- The units can connect to both AC and DC electric power take-off (ePTO) systems, with communication protocols adapted to the respective HGV’s electrical architecture to ensure reliable cooling.
- “We are proud of the entire ECOOLTEC team,” said CEO Henning Altebäumer. “In a short amount of time, we have expanded our product range and successfully integrated our system into electric trucks from various manufacturers with their different high-voltage architectures and communication interfaces.”
Early adoption: ECOOLTEC’s natural refrigerant technology has continued to expand into new markets and vehicle applications.
- In April 2024 the U.K.’s largest supermarket chain, Tesco, acquired two refrigerated trucks equipped with ECOOLTEC TM182 units, becoming the first company in the country to adopt the technology.
- In May ECOOLTEC showcased its technology for the first time in Italy at the 2026 Transpotec Logitec trade fair in Milan. Its TM182 unit was incorporated into a fully electrified semi-trailer built by L’idealcar, with Nivalis Energy Europe’s e-power systems integrated into the vehicle.
- In August German bakery wholesale supplier BÄKO Süd-West acquired two Mercedes-Benz eActros 400s refrigerated delivery trucks equipped with TM182 units, marking the first deployment of fully electric refrigerated vehicles using ECOOLTEC’s technology in the country.
Quotable: “Over the past few years, the ECOOLTEC technology has proven its worth in day-to-day transport operations,” said Altebäumer. “Several hundred units are now in daily use across Europe, demonstrating their reliability under a wide variety of conditions.”
“Several hundred units are now in daily use across Europe, demonstrating their reliability under a wide variety of conditions.”
Henning Altebäumer, ECOOLTEC’s CEO
