Coolbot Provides Budgetfriendly Mobile Cooling for Farmers

Imagine a scorching summer day when your carefully cultivated produce gradually loses freshness and value during transportation to market. For any farmer, this represents an unbearable loss. Traditional refrigerated trucks come with high price tags and maintenance costs, putting them out of reach for many small-scale operations. Could there be a more economical and flexible solution that allows farmers to easily own mobile refrigeration equipment to preserve their crops' quality? CoolBot offers a promising answer to this challenge.

CoolBot isn't a complete refrigeration system but rather an ingenious controller that works with standard window air conditioners, enabling them to maintain temperatures as low as 35°F (1.7°C) without freezing. Since its introduction in 2007, CoolBot has helped thousands of farmers build affordable walk-in coolers. Now, more farmers are adapting the technology for refrigerated trucks and trailers to better transport their goods to market.

An additional advantage of this solution is that in some regions, refrigerated trailers may not be classified as permanent, taxable structures, unlike traditional walk-in coolers, potentially saving farmers additional expenses.

1. Vehicle Selection: Freight trailers or cargo vans are common choices. The vehicle must have adequate space and be suitable for insulation.
2. Insulation: This critical step directly impacts cooling efficiency and energy consumption. The recommended standard matches walk-in coolers, using 3-inch thick polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation panels for walls, floors, and ceilings. White EPS panels require 5-inch thickness for equivalent performance, while cheaper blue or pink polyurethane panels need 4 inches due to gradual performance degradation.
3. Air Conditioner Installation: Cut an opening for the window unit and mount it securely to withstand road vibrations.
4. CoolBot Installation: Mount the controller on the air conditioner and configure it according to instructions to maintain stable low temperatures.
5. Power Supply: Connect to standard power outlets when stationary and use gasoline generators during transport.

Ewell Culbertson of Pachamama Farm in Longmont, Colorado, replaced his refrigerated truck's Thermoking unit with a CoolBot system. "I love being able to pre-load all market-bound products rather than transferring them between walk-in coolers and non-refrigerated trucks," he explained. "We plan to use it as a walk-in cooler on the farm, then transport everything to Boulder's farmers' market while maintaining adequate cooling throughout a hot summer day."

The primary advantage of CoolBot systems lies in their cost-effectiveness. Compared to traditional refrigerated trucks, the CoolBot solution offers significant savings. A basic used refrigerated truck might cost $16,000, plus maintenance expenses, while a CoolBot system requires just $300 for the controller and about $350 for a new window air conditioner, plus the cost of a used trailer and insulation materials.

• Floor Insulation: Often overlooked, proper floor insulation prevents cold air leakage, especially important since cold air naturally sinks.
• AC Unit Selection: Window units are most economical but require sturdy mounting. RV-style roof-mounted units offer better aerodynamics but cost nearly twice as much.
• Cooling Capacity: A 15,000 BTU unit can effectively cool a well-insulated 7x10 foot space to 38°F. Larger spaces or reduced insulation will result in higher temperatures, which may be acceptable for some produce but problematic for dairy products.
• Power Requirements: Larger units (24,000 BTU) require 220V power, necessitating special extension cords or generator setups. Most standard units operate on 110V power.
• Mobile Power Solutions: Gasoline generators work well for mobile operation. Inverters can convert vehicle power but must be sized to handle the initial startup surge (up to 3 times running wattage).
• RV AC Units: These require modified CoolBot controllers (an additional $50) and slight internal modifications, taking about 15 minutes to install.
• Large Trucks: For spaces over 20 feet, two AC units with two CoolBots may be necessary to achieve proper cooling temperatures.

CoolBot provides small farmers with an affordable mobile refrigeration solution that helps maintain produce quality during transport. While the system has limitations regarding insulation requirements and power needs, it represents a significant cost-saving alternative to traditional refrigerated transport. Farmers must evaluate their specific requirements to determine the most suitable configuration for their operations.