EVS, Electrification, and Cold Chain Transport: Where are the Opportunities?

Refrigerated transport plays a vital role in global food security and public health, enabling the safe transport of perishable goods, however emissions from transport refrigeration units (TRUs) have been largely overlooked in national and state level decarbonization strategies. Manufacturers have already rolled out electric TRU models, but the limited regulatory landscape for TRUs in the U.S. and regulatory uncertainty in California mean that fully electric models are unlikely to achieve widespread adoption anytime soon.

Understanding the current state of refrigerated transport technologies, the emerging opportunities for electrification, and the technical and economic barriers to adopting zero emissions TRUs is essential for reducing emissions from this overlooked sector. Equally important is recognizing the role that hybrid and standby electric TRUs can play as near-term solutions for cutting emissions while longer-term infrastructure and policy support are developed.