During the last edition of the Industrial Vehicle Show of Hannover, several truck manufacturers and the German Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (VDA, from its German initials) presented a modular truck concept of 25.25 metres long and a gross vehicle weight of up to 60 tonnes called EuroCombi.
The new innovation allows an increase of 50 percent of transported load volume when compared with the articulated combinations that travel along European roads nowadays. This allows a reduction of a 23 percent in the number of trips that conventional trucks do at present, meaning fewer trucks on the road, more efficient trips, less pollution, and less potential for road damage.
Jose Badia, General Manager of Scania Hispania, said: "the collapse of European roads is a major problem, and if measures are not taken, by 2010 there will have been an increase of 50 per cent in the volume of traffic since 1998."
"If we want to obey the Kyoto protocol and reduce congestion, we must make our trucks bigger and more efficient."
If the transported goods are perishable or need constant temperature throughout the transportation process, it is fundamental that these extra-long trucks of 25.25 metres are backed up by the best refrigeration equipment, and this is where Thermo King comes in scene.
For the EuroCombi concept truck, Thermo King has its SL range for national and international haulage, both for single compartment and multi compartment trailers. From the SL-100e to the Spectrum SL, all the models in the SL range integrate the innovative Poly-V propulsion system from Thermo King, as well as highly efficient condenser and evaporator turbines, which offer an efficient, economic and environmentally friendly operation.
Regarding the extra-long 25.25 metre trucks with a single compartment in each module, the SL-400e from Thermo King is without a doubt, the best solution. With an air flow which ranges from 4,600 to 5,500 cubic metres per hour, and an air flow speed of 19 metres per second, the SL-400e ensures integrity of the complete load by maintaining the transported goods at a constant temperature throughout all the haulage.
On the other hand, if the trailers have multiple compartments which require different temperatures, Thermo King offers the Spectrum SL. This unit offers a high performance and a low life cost, and is flexible enough to offer a solution for almost every need and situation.
Another crucial factor with which Thermo King units reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the EuroCombi concept is the reduction in the fuel consumption. The Poly-V propulsion system used by the SL range is more efficient than previous systems, thereby reducing the loss of power and the fuel consumption.
Evaporator and condenser turbines are highly efficient and offer a temperature reduction and recovery with an increased performance, which allows the diesel engine to require less time at maximum power, thus contributing to a higher fuel consumption efficiency and making the SL range of Thermo King the ideal solution both for present trucks and for the 25.25 metre EuroCombi of the future. 
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