In February 2025, the South Coast AQMD Governing Board approved a project with Range Energy, Inc. (Range) to develop and demonstrate a zero-emission (ZE) Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) with Range’s electric-powered trailer technology for heavy-duty vehicles. Existing diesel-powered TRUs, used to maintain the appropriate temperature of goods during freight transportation activities, are a significant contributor to community air pollution and human health impacts, especially in areas with major transportation corridors like the South Coast Air Basin and the San Joaquin Valley. To date, there are not commercially available ZE trailer mounted TRUs.

Founded in 2021 in Northern California, Range is accelerating the electrification of commercial transportation via powered trailers for the heavy-duty truck market. Range’s unique solution can easily be connected to any tow vehicle, rapidly easing the transition to electrification and meeting its commercial partners’ immediate needs and long-term sustainability goals. South Coast AQMD cofunded earlier work by Range that included the development of a regenerative battery assisted electric-powered trailer, successfully demonstrating the benefit of the propulsion assistance and regenerative braking capabilities of Range’s electric-powered trailer system.

Based on that work, Range will now integrate that electric trailer with a battery-electric TRU. The project will undergo a comprehensive end-to-end demonstration, servicing two fleets with different types of operations. Preliminary data has shown substantial fuel savings and up to 40 percent reductions in greenhouse gas pollutants. Data collected from this study will help to assess the feasibility of zero-emission TRU electric-powered trailers and will provide important input to the development of the TRU regulation led by the California Air Resources Board.