Emmi Schweiz AG trials Nivalis electrified refrigerated trailer tech

Leading Swiss dairy company Emmi Schweiz AG has deployed three electrified refrigerated trailers from Nivalis Energy Europe as part of its efforts to reduce emissions from its refrigerated transport fleet.

Now operating on live distribution routes, the trailers power their energy-intensive refrigeration systems using dedicated battery systems, preserving the e-trucks’ battery capacity for driving while enabling the trailers to operate autonomously without diesel. The deployment will provide Emmi Schweiz AG with real-world data on reliability, uptime and operational performance as it explores the potential for wider electrification across its refrigerated transport operations.

One of Switzerland’s largest dairy companies, Emmi Schweiz AG supplies milk, cheese, yoghurt and other chilled products through an extensive refrigerated distribution network serving major retailers, wholesalers and foodservice customers across Switzerland.

With a large, refrigerated fleet of trailers in operation, the company provides an ideal real-world environment to assess whether electrified refrigeration can meet the demands of everyday commercial food distribution, says Nivalis. Each of the new electrified trailers will travel an average of 200-400 kilometres per day, with the refrigeration units operating for around 6-10 hours daily on normal commercial distribution routes.

Unlike a conventional refrigerated trailer, which relies on a separate diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit (TRU), the Nivalis platform powers refrigeration using an onboard battery energy system. Looking for a platform capable of meeting the demands of daily food distribution, Emmi Schweiz AG selected Nivalis for its operational performance and flexible system architecture. With Emmi’s trucks also fully electric, the Nivalis Reefer brings an additional advantage: it avoids reducing the EV truck’s driving range, while enabling the entire truck-trailer combination to operate almost silently and emission-free.

The Nivalis platform’s modular architecture enables fleets to configure a combination of battery, rooftop solar and regenerative e-axle technologies according to their specific operating requirements.

For Emmi Schweiz AG’s urban distribution routes, the trailers, manufactured by Ackermann Fahrzeugbau AG, have been equipped with Nivalis’ battery-electric refrigeration platform and seven rooftop solar panels. Due to the relatively short distances travelled, regenerative e-axle technology is not required for this application. This provides Emmi Schweiz AG with an electrified refrigeration system – utilising the latest Mitsubishi TEU1300SA refrigeration unit – tailored specifically to the operational profile of these routes.

Stefan Leyers, head of fleet management, Emmi said: “For Emmi, sustainability has to work alongside operational performance. Our customers depend on us to deliver chilled products safely and reliably every day, so any new technology must integrate seamlessly into our existing operations. Since entering commercial service in June, the trailers have performed reliably, and I have to say that we’ve been very pleased with the results. The experience and operational data we’re gaining from their deployment will help inform the next steps in our longer-term fleet electrification journey.”

The deployment represents an important milestone in Emmi’s longer-term ambition to continue electrifying its logistics operations. While the current deployment focuses on refrigerated trailers, the company is also expanding its use of fully electric trucks, with the long-term objective of building a more sustainable refrigerated transport fleet.

Pavel Gilman, VP, sales and project management at Nivalis Energy Europe, said: “Electrification will only be adopted at scale if it fits naturally into the way fleets already operate. Every fleet is different, so the future isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach – it’s giving operators the flexibility to deploy the right combination of technologies for their business. That’s why our platform is modular, allowing customers like Emmi to electrify refrigerated transport in a way that complements their existing operations, rather than asking fleets to redesign the way they already work. We’re excited to show visitors to IAA in September in Hannover, the combination of Emmi’s e-truck and e-trailer and additional early results.”