St vd Brink commits to innovative solar cells to reduce CO₂ footprint
Transport company St vd Brink is launching a pilot for the use of innovative solar cells on trucks. In collaboration with PartsXpert wholesaler Wijlhuizen Arnhem, supplier of truck and trailer parts, this entirely new product is being tested. Green Energy is the supplier of the solar cells and PartsXpert markets the product in Benelux. St vd Brink is keen to cooperate with the goal of achieving at least 50% CO2 by 2025.relative to 2020.
Solar cells for increasing power consumption
New trucks these days are often fitted with extra comforts for a driver’s driving pleasure. These include a coffee maker, television, computer, refrigerator, tools and other equipment. However, these facilities do consume more power. Green power is a sustainable solution to reduce diesel consumption and thus CO₂ emissions. That this solution also saves the battery is an added advantage.
Plug & Play solar cell system
Green Energy offers the possibility of always having charged batteries, completely independent of the grid. This solution is called MIPV (Mobile Integrated Photovoltaic). The new solar cell technology uses the full spectrum of light that generates electricity. As a result, the solar cells provide more output than solar panels where the light range is smaller. The cells can handle any kind of washing and are not shade-sensitive. This way, there is always power.
The test phase at St vd Brink
The initial testing phase will last six months. A three-month summer period and a three-month autumn/winter period with significantly less sunshine hours and strong sunshine. Solar cells are installed on box trucks and refrigerated/freezer trailers of retail customers. These bucket trucks and trailers mainly make short trips with many stops in the inner city of Amsterdam. The charge lift batteries are continuously charged by the solar cells, reducing or eliminating the need to charge the truck’s alternator. The chillers have fewer running hours in the winter months, so the chiller’s standby battery is often empty. No starting aid is needed this way, making the chiller always immediately usable.
After the test phase
After six months, all actual yield data will be compared. This way, we will see if the promising figures achieved so far in the first three months will materialise. The plan is to expand solar cells on St vd Brink’s entire fleet. The aim is to achieve the 50% CO₂ reduction target by 2025 compared to 2020. On to the most sustainable transport company in the Netherlands!
