Thermo King

Electric Standby
Savings Calculator

See what switching from diesel to electric power while parked could save your truck or trailer refrigeration unit.

Thermo King Precedent S-600 trailer refrigeration unit

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Your equipment

Select one type of refrigeration unit for this estimate.

Truck unit Trailer unit

Refrigeration unit Typical application Number of unitsunits How long will you keep the equipment?years

The application is included in your estimate. The general benchmark does not automatically change with temperature.

Your operation

Estimate the hours the refrigeration engine is running while parked where power could be available. Do not count hours when it cycles off.

Engine hours per dayhours Days per weekdays Weeks per yearweeks

These are example values. Change them to match your operation.

Energy costs

Choose the state where you expect to plug in. You can use your actual fuel and electricity prices.

Facility state Required

Diesel price$/ gal Electricity price$/ kWh

Select a state to look up diesel, or enter your own price.

Select a state to use a dated EIA commercial average, or enter your own rate.

Your investment

Does the unit have electric standby? Additional standby cost per unit Optional$

Enter $0 if there is no new equipment cost. Leave blank if the cost is unknown; savings can still be estimated.

Plugs and site costsAdd shared costs if your project needs them

Number of new plugs Installed cost per plug$ Other site upgrades$

The estimate assumes no plug or site-upgrade cost unless you enter one.

Contact information

We’ll use your information to follow up about your estimate.

Name Required Company Required Email Required Phone Required

Review assumptionsFuel, electric use, maintenance and emissions

These are historical industry planning benchmarks, not measured consumption for the selected Thermo King model. Refrigeration load, temperature, cycling and standby capacity affect actual results.

Diesel used while runninggal / engine hr Electricity while operatingkWh / electric hr Electric hours per diesel hourhours Net maintenance savings Optional$/ diesel hr

One electric operating hour per displaced diesel engine hour is an estimate. Adjust it for different cycling or cooling capacity. Where applicable, maintenance starts with an older EPA planning estimate. If blank, maintenance is excluded until you enter a value.

EPA eGRID region Optional

For an estimated net CO₂ result, select the facility’s eGRID region. Find your grid region with EPA.

By calculating, you agree that Transport Refrigeration may contact you about this estimate. Privacy policy.

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How electric standby saves

When a compatible refrigeration unit is parked and connected to suitable power, electric standby can operate the reefer without running its diesel engine. Savings depend on the hours displaced, energy rates, the unit and the load.

Electric standby may be optional on T-90 and Precedent units. The S-750i includes shore power. Confirm your configuration and electrical supply with your dealer.

Sources & detailed emissions

Initial use assumptions are historical industry estimates from the 2014 CalETC study; maintenance uses the EPA TRU calculator’s older generic estimate. Electricity prices use a dated EIA commercial average.

Download the EPA TRU Emissions Calculator (.xlsx). The EPA workbook is a separate tool and does not imply EPA endorsement.

Electric standby, explained

Does electric standby work while the unit is on the road?

This calculator compares stationary operation when a compatible unit is connected to external power. The diesel refrigeration engine supplies power while driving.

Why might electric and diesel operating hours differ?

Cooling capacity and cycling can differ between power modes. The default assumes one electric operating hour per diesel engine hour; adjust the assumption when you have measured data.

Can I estimate an existing standby-equipped unit?

Yes. Enter the hours it could run on electricity and $0 for additional equipment cost if no new equipment is needed. Add any known plug or site costs.