Cooling the Cold Chain: Electrifying the Future of Transport Refrigeration
By Orbis Electric Engineering Team | October 2025
The Cold Chain at a Crossroads
The global cold chain – the network that transports refrigerated goods like food, pharmaceuticals, and perishables – is facing a massive transformation. Diesel-powered refrigeration units have long dominated the industry, but their days are numbered. Governments are tightening emissions regulations, diesel prices are volatile, and fleet operators are under pressure from shippers and consumers to reduce carbon footprints.
At the same time, the logistics sector is battling razor-thin margins and unprecedented demand for temperature-sensitive shipping. The challenge is clear: how to maintain consistent cold performance without the cost, complexity, and carbon of diesel engines.
Why Electrification Has Been Slow
While the EV revolution has transformed passenger transport, the electrification of transport refrigeration units (eTRUs) has lagged behind. The barriers are real – weight, power draw, heat generation, and limited battery capacity have made full-electric refrigeration impractical for most fleets.
Until now.
The Orbis Solution: HaloDrive-Powered Refrigeration
Orbis Electric’s HaloDrive Axial-Flux Half-Stack Motor changes the math on mobile refrigeration. By replacing bulky radial motors with an ultra-compact axial-flux configuration, Orbis delivers higher torque and power density in a smaller, lighter package – freeing up valuable payload space while lowering total power consumption.
Its superior thermal management eliminates overheating issues that plague conventional EeTRU electrification attempts. The result is longer runtime, more consistent cooling, and lower energy draw per refrigeration cycle.
Diesel Out, Efficiency In
In a market still dominated by diesel gensets, HaloDrive’s efficiency translates directly into operating savings.
Fleet operators can expect:
Up to 40% reduction in power draw for the same cooling output
20–30% lower total system weight, allowing for greater payload efficiency
Elimination of diesel maintenance, filters, and fuel costs
Compliance with zero-emission mandates without loss of cooling performance
Third-Party Validation and Industry Testing
Orbis Electric’s HaloDrive motor platform has been validated through independent laboratory testing and field modeling by Tier-1 engineering partners, confirming its superior performance, torque, and energy balance under dynamic load conditions typical in refrigerated trailers and vans.
The Bigger Picture: Decarbonizing the Cold Chain
The global refrigerated transport industry emits over 200 million metric tons of CO₂ annually. Electrifying even a fraction of this fleet would make an enormous impact on the climate – and on operators’ bottom lines.
The Future Is Adaptive
Fleet sustainability is no longer an ESG checkbox – it’s a business imperative. Orbis Electric’s HaloDrive-powered EeTRU platform gives operators the ability to electrify efficiently, affordably, and intelligently.