UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is trialing a refrigerated delivery truck cooled by a liquid nitrogen-powered engine designed to eliminate all emissions associated with refrigeration. Supplied by cooling technology specialists Dearman, the zero-emission cooling unit replaces the traditional diesel engine used to chill the vehicle.

During the three-month test—during which the truck will deliver chilled goods from Sainsbury’s Waltham Point depot to stores across the London area—Dearman says the vehicle will save up to 1.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of driving over 14,500 km in a modern family car. The trial will also save 37 kg of nitrogen oxides and 2 kg of particulate matter, compared to a diesel system, the company says.

During the three-month test, the vehicle will save up to 1.6 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of driving over 14,500 km in a modern family car. Image credit: Dearman. Traditionally, many refrigerated trucks require two diesel engines, one to power the vehicle and one for the refrigeration unit. The new system replaces the latter, harnessing the rapid expansion of liquid nitrogen to deliver power and cooling.

In addition to being a cleaner method of refrigeration, Dearman says the new engine boasts certain safety advantages. Unlike traditional fuels such as diesel, liquid nitrogen is a non-flammable substance that is already used extensively in industry and food preparation and transported on the UK’s road network.

The trial is the latest in a series of technologies Sainsbury’s has piloted as the retailer works to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 30% between 2005 and 2020. Following testing in 2013, it began using CO2 as a natural refrigerant and now has three trucks cooled via this method. Earlier this year, the company introduced R-452A in place of R-404A as a lower-emission cooling agent for its truck refrigerators.