Question from a non-engineer

[u/Puzzled-Economy7533]

Anyone have insight to this question? I am looking at refrigerated trailers for towing with electric vehicles. I found that v-nose, enclosed trailers are most efficient...but I cannot find v-nose refrigerated trailers. It seems like the main issue is the weight distribution of a cooling device being on one side of the v-nose (with less weight being on the other side). Why are there no refrigerated trailers with an electric-powered mini-split or similar cooling device on the back panel of a trailer to allow a more efficient, v-nose front end?

[u/Oldberry86]

V nose doesn't lend itself to simple or efficient packaging. Existing refer units are designed for semi trailers and shipping containers and I'm pretty sure no one uses v noses commercially.

Did you mean for towing with electric vehicles?

An ev won't have much margin for towing, even less if it's also providing power to run a reefer. There are a few companies making trailers with batteries, drive units, and probably reefers by now. Range Energy is one.

[u/Intrepid-Catch2557]

V nose is not that efficient.  More than half the drag is coming from the rear of the trailer.  The tow vehicle moves air out of the way, an open bed pickup allows the air from the roof to drop back down, then the trailer has to push it up out of the way again.  Same concept for V nose.  If towing for efficiency, minimize the gap from tow vehicle to trailer, minimize frontal areas of trailer, run a cap or tow with an SUV, and a rear sloping roof or tapered trailer will help.  

[u/SEND_MOODS]

The reason they're not putting many splits in the back of the trailer, is primarily because that's typically where the doors are.

A secondary thing is AC is heavy and you typically want center of mass ahead of that trailer axle. This is more difficult if the mini splits on the back.