Tesco selects R454A refrigerated trailer units
9th September 2026
UK: Carrier Transicold has delivered five Vector HE 19 low CO2 emissions multi-temperature trailer refrigeration units to Tesco.
Mounted on 13.6m Gray & Adams trailers, the units are charged with R454A, an A2L refrigerant with a lower GWP of 239.
The deployment comes as refrigerated fleet operators across Europe increasingly explore lower-GWP refrigeration technologies as part of broader efforts to reduce emissions from temperature-controlled distribution and support evolving environmental goals.
The traditional refrigerated trailer refrigerant R452A, which R454A replaces, has a GWP of 2,140.
“Working with Carrier Transicold allows us to take meaningful steps towards reducing emissions across our fleet,” said Cliff Smith, Tesco’s fleet engineering manager. “The Vector HE 19 low CO2 emissions units support our strategy to transition away from carbon-intensive solutions, without sacrificing reliability or efficiency.”
The Vector HE 19 has undergone a comprehensive internal redesign to accommodate the low GWP refrigerant while maintaining the familiar user experience and performance of the standard Vector platform.
The system includes leak-detection sensors and a pump-down system that automatically recovers refrigerant in the event of a leak.
Tesco operates more than 2,900 stores in the UK and will use the new trailers to transport ambient, chilled and frozen goods throughout its national distribution network seven days a week.
The five refrigeration units are supported by Carrier Transicold’s BluEdge fixed-cost full-service maintenance package, which includes annual temperature-control testing and certification, regulatory inspections and access to the company’s oneCALL 24/7 incident management system.
