All-electric refrigerated truck in practical use

The Granerhof Refinement Butchery Relies on an eSprinter with Kiesling Refrigerated Body

A fully electric refrigerated transporter shows how fresh goods are delivered to Munich city center emission-free, quietly, and reliably chilled. Gut Granerhof in Peißenberg/Böbing stands for high-quality meat and sausage specialties from its own production. Regionality, animal welfare, short transport routes, and responsible use of resources are part of the company's philosophy. A photovoltaic system with 300 kWp combined with a 50 kWh battery storage system supplies electricity for the operation of the modern butchery.

A large proportion of the refinement butchery's customers are restaurants in the Munich area. Gut Granerhof has now opted for a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter with a Kiesling refrigerated body and a fully electric E-200-50 MAX refrigeration unit from Thermo King. The electric vehicle enables locally emission-free and low-noise delivery of goods to restaurants in the city center.

The decision was made not only for ecological but also for economic reasons. The vehicle has been in operation since May 2026 and was realized with Autohaus HORNUNG, a partner for Mercedes-Benz vans.

Why Granerhof Chose Kiesling

When selecting the refrigerated body, quality, durability, and sustainability were decisive factors for Granerhof. Therefore, the choice fell on a refrigerated body from Kiesling Fahrzeugbau GmbH.

Kiesling offers innovative solutions for temperature-controlled logistics and places a strong emphasis on sustainability itself. At its plant in Dornstadt near Ulm, a large proportion of the electricity required for production facilities is supplied by its own photovoltaic systems with an output of over 920 kWp. The products are of high quality; the refrigerated bodies are durable and easy to repair. Kiesling is the first manufacturer to offer refrigerated bodies with a TÜV-certified recycling rate of ≥ 85% and a recovery rate of ≥ 95%.

The combination of durable quality and resource-saving construction also convinced Granerhof and makes the Kiesling refrigerated body the suitable solution for the new eSprinter.

In Daily Delivery Use in Munich City Center

Since May 2026, Granerhof has been using the fully electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinter with a Kiesling refrigerated body for daily deliveries of meat and sausage products to restaurants. The routes predominantly lead from Peißenberg to Munich city center.

The tour usually starts around 7:30 AM. After about six hours, the vehicle returns to the company premises around 1:30 PM. During the tour, the eSprinter covers approximately 150 to 180 kilometers and serves four to five customers.

At delivery stops, the cargo area is often opened up to three times. The average opening duration is about 60 seconds. Despite frequent door openings, the set target temperature of +1 °C is reliably maintained throughout the entire tour.

The refrigeration unit operates within a defined temperature range: It switches off at 0 °C and restarts when the temperature rises to +4 °C. This ensures that sensitive meat and sausage products remain continuously within the required temperature window.

Full-fledged Alternative to Diesel Vehicle

After the first months of operation, the evaluation is more than positive. The significantly reduced noise level of the electric vehicle is particularly pleasant.

"Rising diesel prices and our PV system with storage were decisive for the purchase of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter. This makes us more economically independent of fuel price developments," says operations manager Tobias Ende. "For us, it is a full-fledged alternative."

The standard speed limit of 90 km/h is sufficient for Granerhof's daily journeys. Driving at higher speeds would increase energy consumption and reduce the available range.

Range Fits Intended Use

The driving performance and available range also match Granerhof's tour profile. With continuous cooling activated, the vehicle achieves a practical range of about 200 kilometers. If cooling is no longer needed on the return journey and switched off, Granerhof reports up to 220 kilometers are possible.

The vehicle starts in the morning with a battery charge of 100 percent. After returning, the remaining battery capacity, depending on the route, traffic volume, and operating conditions, is usually between 15 and 30 percent, providing sufficient range reserve for unforeseen circumstances.

The operations manager sees optimization potential more in comfort. To save as much energy as possible on the outward journey, the driver sometimes refrains from using the air conditioning. "With a slightly longer range, this would no longer be necessary."

Reliable Cooling Even in High Heat

A particular test of endurance was the high ambient temperatures during the heatwave in June and July 2026. At temperatures of more than 30 °C, the vehicle had to prove its performance under demanding conditions.

Even on these hot days, the required transport temperature was reliably maintained. An important prerequisite for this was the consistent pre-cooling of the refrigerated body before the start of the journey.

Tobias Ende: "The high outside temperatures were no problem at all thanks to pre-cooling. The refrigerated body maintained the temperature excellently, and the refrigeration unit worked reliably at all times."

Practical experience has shown that the high-quality insulation of the Kiesling refrigerated body, the electric refrigeration unit, and pre-cooling via the mains connection work together effectively.

Charging on Own Premises

The eSprinter is charged exclusively on the Granerhof premises. An 11 kW AC wallbox is available for this purpose. Depending on the remaining battery level, a full charge to 100 percent takes about six to seven hours and is done directly after the vehicle returns from its tour.

Since daily routes are predictable and within the available range, no intermediate charging is required during the tour.

Granerhof is thus independent of public charging stations and can use its own electricity from the PV system. The electric vehicle could thus be optimally integrated into existing operational processes.

Conclusion: Fully Electric Refrigerated Logistics Works with the Right Tour Profile

Practical use at Gut Granerhof shows that regional refrigerated deliveries with predictable daily routes can be implemented entirely electrically. Tours can be completed without intermediate charging, and the cooling reliably maintains the required goods temperature. Important criteria are consistent pre-cooling and on-site charging facilities. Additionally, the eSprinter in this configuration is only suitable for fresh produce delivery, not for deep-freeze.

"We would choose a fully electric refrigerated vehicle again at any time. The vehicle convinces in daily use with reliability, low noise emissions, and seamless integration into our processes. The combination of electric drive and high-performance refrigerated body works excellently and fully meets our requirements," explains operations manager Tobias Ende.

Tour Data at a Glance:

• Load: Meat and sausage products
• Daily mileage: approx. 150 to 180 km
• Range with cooling throughout the entire tour: approx. 200 km
• Range with cooling switched off on the return journey: approx. 220 km
• Stops per tour: four to five, each with up to three door openings of approx. 60 seconds
• Tour duration: approx. six hours
• Battery level at the start of the tour: 100 percent
• Battery level at the end of the tour: approx. 15 to 30 percent
• Set target temperature: +1 °C
  
  

Recommendations for Daily Operation:

• Pre-cool the body to transport temperature before loading.
• Keep door openings as short as possible, close immediately after unloading.
• Additionally use the cold retention system Cool Slide / Cool Flap.
• Efficiently plan delivery stops and routes.
• Charge the vehicle battery promptly and fully.
• Distribute the load so that air can circulate freely.
• Drive smoothly and predictively, use recuperation.
  
  

Data for the Fully Electric Refrigeration Unit - Thermo King E-200-50 MAX:

• Driven via the vehicle's ePTO or 230 V / 16 A CEE socket (blue plug)
• Cooling capacity: 2,030 W at 0 °C / 1,020 W at -20 °C
• Heating capacity: 2,000 W
• Function: Fresh service cooling and heating in driving and stationary operation
  
  

Data for the eSprinter 420 PRO from Mercedes-Benz:

• Mercedes-Benz eSprinter 420 PRO with a wheelbase of 3,665 mm
• Permissible gross vehicle weight: 4,250 kg
• Payload: approx. 1,010 kg
• Usable battery capacity: 81 kWh
• Motor power: 150 kW or 204 hp
• Electric power take-off: E2C ePTO, 3.5 kW, 12 V DC
• AC charging power: up to 22 kW
• WLTP range without body: up to 304 km
• Speed limit: standard 90 km/h

Driving License and Registration

An advantage of electric vehicles like the eSprinter is the possibility of registration with a permissible gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 4.25 t. This results in a payload advantage of around 100 kg compared to a comparable diesel model.

The CoC documents provide for a weight exemption of 650 kg for the eSprinter. This means that an eSprinter with a permissible gross vehicle weight of up to 4.15 t (3.5 t + 650 kg) may still be driven with a Class B driver's license.

However, if the vehicle is registered for 4.25 t GVW, a Class C1 driver's license is required. This is an important aspect, particularly for businesses, associations, or organizations such as food banks, if drivers only have a Class B license.

Tachograph

Since the eSprinter is classified as a Class N2 vehicle when registered over 3.5 t GVW, a tachograph is generally mandatory. However, depending on the area of application, exceptions to driving and rest times may apply. These should be checked for the specific application before procuring the vehicle.