FPS helps businesses move towards a greener future with an innovative, practical and efficient electric plug solution to power TRUs
Plugging HGV transport refrigeration units (TRUs) into mains electricity can reduce fuel usage in a fleet by up to 10%, substantially reducing cost, noise, and carbon and particulate emissions.
Although the technology has existed for decades, duty exemptions on red diesel and implementation challenges disincentivised take-up. As organisations consider the business case for plugging in, they face new challenges around power availability and quantifying the achievable savings.
Flexible Power Systemsʼ (FPS) TRU smart plug solution addresses these challenges, enabling fuel cost savings that run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
It combines safety and efficiency alongside carbon emissions reductions – a game changer for refrigerated transport.
Why plug in?
TRU fuel consumption can be as high as 10-15% of HGV fleet fuel usage. Up to 2/3 of this consumption can occur in depots where energy intensive activities like pull-downs and waiting take place. Using electricity instead of diesel for this activity can reduce costs, emissions and noise.
Many TRUs can be plugged in without modification meaning that cost and carbon savings can be unlocked without vehicle investments.
Example Business Case
| Diesel | Electricity | Saving per kWh | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumption | 0.5 litre | 1 kWh | ||
| Costs | £0.50 | £0.25 | £0.25 | |
| Emissions | 1.2kg | 0.2kg | 1kg |
Electricity consumption of TRUs varies according to unit efficiencies, outdoor temperature, equipment and operational factors.
As an example, an FPS customer used 84MWh per month across about 120 sockets. This would deliver 84TCO2e and £21,000 per month in savings.
| 121 Sockets | Each Socket | |
|---|---|---|
| 84MWh per month | 694kWh per month | |
| 42k litres per month saving | 694 litres per month saving | |
| £21k per month saving | £174 per month saving | |
| 84TCO2e per month saved | 694kgCO2e per month saved |
Barriers to plugging in
Operators face multiple challenges to realise these benefits.
At some sites power constraints can mean that it is impossible to deploy infrastructure without costly connection upgrades that can create substantial programme delays.
More generally, not being able to track utilisation and fuel cost savings can:
- Limit driver compliance as it isnʼt clear why they need to plug-in or check that they are doing so
- Delay future roll out as the business and carbon case is not quantified or measured
- Create challenges in 3PL arrangements where suppliers may be using customersʼ electricity to realise these savings.
FPS Smart Plug Solution
FPS has developed a unique IoT platform FPS Operate that can automatically track and report TRU hook-up usage to create transparency regarding financial and carbon return on investment and electricity usage.
The platform also manages proprietary smart plugs that allow fleets to control site power usage and avoid costly connection upgrades.
A recent deployment of the platform with a major retailer eliminated a £230k connection upgrade that would have delayed the project by two years; they unlocked over £1m in fuel cost savings that would have been lost.
The plug operates at 400V.
It can handle a maximum current of 32A.
The plug is designed for 3-phase power supply. It includes connections for neutral and earth.
The plug incorporates a 30mA RCD-B (Residual Current Device Type B). This safety feature detects and protects against ground faults, ensuring user safety.
The metering system is MID approved. This means it complies with the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) standards, ensuring accurate measurement and billing.
The plug is designed in accordance with IP44. This indicates its resistance to dust and water ingress. IP44 ensures reliable operation even in challenging environments.
Mobile, ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity options are available.