Cold Storage – Diesel Refrigerated Trailers vs Electric Refrigerated Containers 

If your business relies on cold storage, there are several options to consider when storing your product.  If you don’t have built-in cold storage at your facility or if the capital isn’t available to build cold storage space on-site, you’ll need to seek alternatives.  One option is to take your product to an off-site cold storage facility/warehouse and stage it there.  If you prefer that the product remains on-site, you can utilize diesel powered refrigerated trailers or electric refrigerated containers from a cold storage supplier.  

The question then becomes, which option is better for your business - diesel powered refrigerated trailers or electric refrigerated containers?  

That’s where we come in.  Portable Refrigeration Storage is an industry leader in providing on-site electric cold storage solutions.  

There are several factors to consider when making this decision.  They are as follows - 

The Product

First, you should consider if your product needs to be moved from site to site or if it will be stored on-site only.  If your product needs to be transported, then a diesel reefer trailer (an over the road or OTR trailer) is most likely the best fit for you.  Since diesel trailers don’t need to be connected to power, they can keep your product cold while in transit.  

However, if you only plan to store the product on-site, then an electric refrigerated container (ground level) or an electric refrigerated trailer (dock level) is an excellent alternative.  A ground level unit can also be mounted onto a container chassis, making the ground level unit accessible at dock level.  Having ground level access to your product can also be a huge advantage.  The electric refrigerated containers afford you this flexibility, whereas the diesel trailers are all on wheels/up in the air.  

Reliability & Efficiency

Diesel powered refrigerated trailers and electric refrigerated containers are both reliable options.  However, if your product doesn’t need to be transported from one site to another (and only stored on-site), our electric refrigerated containers are the optimum choice.  

From a reliability standpoint, the electric units will maintain the desired temperature for your product within 1 degree of the setpoint (based on your product and usage, of course).  This is due to the efficiency of the cooling system and the insulation/construction of the refrigerated containers.  

We utilize Carrier™ cooling systems in our cold storage rental fleet.  Carrier is a global leader in manufacturing cooling systems that are purpose built for refrigerated containers.  Their flagship model is called the PrimeLINE™.  

This model is equipped with a digital scroll compressor.  It’s the only compressor on the market designed for R-134a in a container application.  Exceptional efficiency results from its digital modulation, which minimizes energy usage, and its vapor injection system, which delivers more cooling capacity.  The PrimeLINE™ is also the only containerized cooling system capable of providing airflow of 5,440 cubic meters per hour, cycling cool air the entire 40-foot container length to help minimize and eliminate potential hot spots (as stated in Carrier’s article – “The Champ”).

The insulation used in refrigerated containers is a non-ozone depleting, rigid closed cell polyurethane foam.  The insulation is approximately 3” thick throughout the walls, ceiling, doors and floor of a refrigerated container.  The insulation is blown between the inner/outer panels or cladding of refrigerated containers.  The panels are generally comprised of stainless steel and MGSS (muffler grade stainless steel).  

Refrigerated containers are constructed to conform to the ISO’s (International Organization of Standardization) stringent standards for equipment that is utilized worldwide. 

They also must meet certain structural requirements to be utilized in international shipping service.  These strict standards are upheld by the CSC (International Convention for Safe Containers).

Ultimately, these high standards are put in place to ensure that refrigerated containers are constructed properly for the shipment of perishables globally.  If refrigerated containers are constructed to withstand the harshest climates imaginable while in service, they can certainly handle just about any domestic cold storage application…and do!

If the reasons above aren’t enough to convince you of the advantages of electric cold storage, then consider the cost to operate one vs a diesel refrigerated trailer.  Depending on usage, the cost savings can be as much as 50% or more per month. 

Environmental Impact

The above information is certainly enough to convince you that electric refrigerated containers are the way to go.  However, we’ve not yet discussed the environmental advantages to electric cold storage.  

This may be the most important factor to consider when weighing the options between electric or diesel.

Electric refrigerated containers provide clean energy as opposed to the destructive impact of diesel refrigeration on the environment.  Diesel engines produce harmful emissions and pollutants that contaminate the air we breathe.  Diesel fuel is also a non-renewable energy source, requiring raw materials to be pulled from the Earth and distilled at a rate that cannot keep up with consumption.

According to the EPA, emissions from diesel engines contribute to the production of ground-level ozone which damages crops, trees and other vegetation.  Also produced is acid rain, which affects soil, lakes and streams and enters the human food chain via water, produce, meat and fish.  

The Carrier PrimeLINE™ cooling system is the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly option in the industry.  There’s no comparison when putting it up against a diesel refrigerated trailer.  However, you may be surprised to learn that it’s also the leader amongst the other electric containerized options.  The PrimeLINE™ system reduces power draw, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions.  The environmental impact is also minimal when using R-134a vs what Carrier’s competitors use in their systems, which is R-404A.  The Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Atmospheric Lifetime are greatly reduced, due to the innovative technology offered in the Carrier™ systems.  

If your business needs cold storage and you don’t need to transport the product, electric refrigerated containers (or trailers at dock level) are the way to go.  You’ll not only be saving money, making your business more profitable, you’ll also be contributing to the preservation and protection of our planet.  

It’s a no brainer!  Contact us today and let us assist you in finding the electric cold storage solution that’s right for your business.