Smarter, Smaller, Stronger: The HaloDrive Engine for Next-Gen ETRU Systems
By Orbis Electric Engineering Team | October 2025
A Sector in Search of a Scalable Solution
Every logistics fleet in the world faces the same dilemma: how to deliver fresh, temperature-sensitive goods reliably while cutting emissions and fuel costs. The traditional diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit is costly, heavy, and inefficient – yet alternatives have fallen short.
Battery-electric refrigeration systems have struggled with limited runtime, excessive weight, and thermal inefficiency. The industry has been waiting for a compact, powerful, and validated electric drive system capable of sustaining continuous-duty cooling.
Enter the HaloDrive Cooling Engine
Orbis Electric’s HaloDrive Axial-Flux Half-Stack Motor – integrated into the company’s proprietary Cooling Engine platform – delivers exactly that breakthrough.
Unlike radial motors, HaloDrive’s axial-flux architecture generates torque along its face, producing more usable energy in less space. This configuration enables:
Higher power-to-weight ratio
Superior thermal stability
Reduced parasitic losses
Integrated smart cooling control
For transport refrigeration systems, this translates to more efficient power conversion and longer duty cycles per charge, all in a smaller footprint.
Modular Design, Maximum Flexibility
Orbis designed the HaloDrive as a modular architecture, allowing fleet integrators and OEMs to configure the system across multiple platforms – from small delivery vans to full-length tractor-trailers.
The motor and control systems can be paired with existing inverter technologies or Orbis’ upcoming adaptive drive controller, which intelligently adjusts motor load and cooling parameters based on real-time performance data.
AI-Enabled Predictive Performance
Orbis Electric’s vision extends beyond the motor itself. The company is developing an AI-driven analytics layer that will continuously monitor energy consumption, thermal output, and performance degradation to predict service needs before they arise.
Validated Technology, Ready for Scale
Third-party evaluators have verified HaloDrive’s superior energy conversion and thermal stability across dynamic duty cycles. Real-world simulations demonstrate efficiency improvements of up to 25–35% over conventional electric refrigeration systems, with equal or superior cooling capacity.
Sustainability Meets Profitability
The HaloDrive system isn’t just greener – it’s smarter business. It enables operators to eliminate diesel dependency, reduce maintenance overhead, and meet the growing demand from shippers for zero-emission delivery chains.