Thermo King reefer unit wins Product of the Year award

Thermo King's e1000 transport refrigeration unit is an award winner. 

The Environment + Energy Leader Awards program recognized the TRU as a Top Product of the Year, Thermo King announced Tuesday. The program called the e1000 a leader in its class, making great strides in energy or environmental management. 

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"We are extremely proud to receive this recognition from Environment + Energy Leader as it reinforces our decarbonization goals and commitment to advance technologies that reduce environmental impact for our customers, the industry and future generations," says Chris Tanaka, vice president of product management for Thermo King Americas. "This includes our pledge to invest more than $100 million to deliver fully electric products into every segment of the cold chain in the Americas by 2025." 

The e1000 is part of the Thermo King evolve portfolio of electric products. It is the first large-capacity electric TRU without a diesel engine offered in North America that meets regulations for zero emissions, including the California Air Resources Board's Transport Refrigeration Unit 2023 Standard, Thermo King says. 

It uses the R-452A refrigerant, which comes with a lower global warming potential. The e1000 also has no mechanical components to maintain and no diesel fuel costs, helping reduce waste, emissions and total cost of ownership, Thermo King says. Its design integrates with electric chassis and offers both fresh and frozen setpoints for 16-28-foot truck boxes. 

One judge in the Environment + Energy Leader Awards program commented that units like the e1000 "will be critical to the decarbonization of food and beverage (and other) industries." 

The program commends excellence in products and projects that deliver significant energy and environmental benefits. It has a rigorous selection process says Sarah Leader, co-president of Environment + Energy Leader. 

"This year's entrants had to surpass an exceptionally high bar to qualify for an award, thanks to a seasoned and discerning judging panel as well as stringent judging criteria," she says.