German bakery wholesale supplier BÄKO Süd-West has acquired two Mercedes-Benz eActros 400s refrigerated delivery trucks equipped with ECOOLTEC’s electrically operated TM182 transport refrigeration unit, which uses propylene (R1270) and CO2 (R744).
The acquisition marks a milestone for both companies, with the trucks being the first two fully electric refrigerated vehicles equipped with TM182 units to operate in Germany, according to ECOOLTEC. BÄKO Süd-West, based in Edingen-Neckarhausen between Mannheim and Heidelberg, delivers roughly 16,000 products at ambient, chilled or frozen temperatures to bakers and confectioners in the surrounding area. ECOOLTEC offers two flat evaporator models, E1312 and E1221, allowing the TM182 unit to maintain different temperatures in two compartments within the same truck body.
“The decision to use electric trucks equipped with the ECOOLTEC transport refrigeration system marks a logical step for us towards sustainable low-emission logistics,” said Jochen Früauff, Managing Director of BÄKO Süd-West. “For us, the vehicle is not a flagship project or a niche solution but an all-rounder capable of handling all our routes.”
Operation details: BÄKO Süd-West, one of BÄKO’s 25 regional cooperatives, supports a delivery area that extends to Buchen (Odenwald), Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Pirmasens.
- Individual routes extend up to 300km (186mi) and include up to 15 delivery points.
- BÄKO Süd-West’s nearly 40-vehicle fleet already includes several electric delivery trucks. A photovoltaic system installed on the company’s warehouse roofs supports four EV charging points, each with a maximum capacity of 360kW.
- “The vehicles set off on their rounds early in the morning and return to the depot as early as 1 pm,” said Sven Strauch, Head of Logistics Services and Fleet Management at BÄKO Süd-West. This allows up to six hours for recharging during the summer months using electricity generated by the photovoltaic system, he explained.
Acquisition benefits: The electric refrigerated trucks with ECOOLTEC’s TM182 units reduce operational costs compared to conventional options, offer easy operation and meet the wholesaler’s site- and operation-specific requirements.
- The upfront costs of the trucks are higher than those of comparable diesel-powered models with synthetic refrigeration. However, their operational costs are lower due to the use of solar-generated electricity for recharging, toll exceptions on 60% of the company’s routes, lower maintenance costs and significantly lower refrigerant costs compared with f-gases. Overall, Früauff expects ECOOLTEC’s units will save the company at least €4,000 ($4,600) per vehicle annually.
- Drivers find the TM182 unit easy to use, according to the company’s Fleet Manager Oleg Anschütz, who said the central control panel requires only a few button commands.
- The Mercedes-Benz eActros 400s meet BÄKO Süd-West’s loading dock requirements. With its 250mm (9.8in) roof-mounted profile, the TM182 allows the wholesaler to load roll-in containers and full pallets without compromising cargo space, unlike conventional systems that either reduce the loading height to less than 1.9m (6.2ft) when roof-mounted or shorten the truck body when front-mounted.
Government support: Various German subsidy schemes back decarbonization efforts, while the EU F-gas Regulation pushes the market towards adopting natural refrigerant solutions.
- “The European regulations governing refrigeration systems now have a major influence on our decisions,” Anschütz said, noting the sharply rising prices for synthetic high-GWP refrigerants.
- To support decarbonization efforts, Baden-Württemberg’s subsidy scheme for electric commercial vehicles will provide BÄKO Süd-West with €60,000 ($69,400) for maintenance and operating costs for the two electric trucks, according to Anschütz.
- Despite BÄKO Süd-West’s desire to convert its entire fleet to electric models, it faces electricity supply constraints even after it upgrades its transformer and installs additional charging points with a €56,000 ($64,800) grant from Germany’s Energy and Climate Fund, according to Früauff. “For companies wishing to invest in sustainability, a sustainable subsidy policy is vital,” he said, calling for greater government reliability.
Quotable: “ECOOLTEC’s technology has convinced us of its performance,” said Früauff. “We don’t have to compromise on quality, temperature control or range. [Customers are] delighted when we deliver with the electric trucks. It’s brilliant for our image!”
“For us, the vehicle is not a flagship project or a niche solution but an all-rounder capable of handling all our routes.”
Jochen Früauff, Managing Director of BÄKO Süd-West
