The electrification of transportation is progressing in Mexico, but still unevenly. While electric vehicles have become a symbol of modernity and sustainability, behind them lies a more complex reality, especially when it comes to maintaining a stable cold chain while in motion .

“Everyone talks about electric vehicles, but few ask where they will be plugged in,” warned José Carlos Gómez , Sales Director for Latin America at Thermo King , a company specializing in temperature-controlled equipment.

In an interview with T21, the executive said that infrastructure remains the biggest challenge , since you can have the electric truck, but if there are no charging points or sufficient electrical capacity in the area, the business model is not sustainable.

On the other hand, in Mexican transport, talking about temperature control is usually associated with food or pharmaceutical products, but this segment has grown and also includes cosmetics, automotive components, chemicals and even live animals.

Each load requires a specific temperature range, which implies more sophisticated handling than with dry cargo.

“A delay of a couple of hours at the border can spoil tons of avocados or fish,” Gómez explained.

In this context, the lack of infrastructure not only increases logistics costs but also compromises product safety and traceability . And as demand for perishable goods grows—driven by e-commerce, the pharmaceutical industry, and urban consumption—gaps in the cold chain become more apparent.

In that sense, the commitment to electric fleets in the cold chain introduces a new type of planning: energy planning.

“An electric refrigerated truck requires more planning than a diesel one. You have to know how many units to load, how long the route will take, and where you can recharge if necessary,” Gómez commented.

In Mexico, approximately 400 fully electric, temperature-controlled transport vehicles are already in operation, primarily on urban last-mile routes. Their range is between 180 and 400 kilometers, sufficient for local operations but insufficient for long-distance or interstate journeys.

“To travel from Mexico City to San Luis Potosí, for example, a vehicle would have to stop to recharge in Querétaro. This requires a reliable electrical grid, charging stations, and, above all, logistical coordination,” he explained.

The lack of such a network makes electrification more of a planning exercise than a technological adoption. The analogy, Gómez said, is simple: “It’s like charging your cell phone before a long trip. You know you can’t count on finding an outlet along the way.”

A silent technological leap

Although electrification is the focus of attention, the technological evolution of refrigerated transport has gone further. In the last decade, the industry has incorporated remote tracking and monitoring systems that allow for the control of temperature, location, and even door openings from a mobile device.

“Today I can know the temperature of a trailer crossing the border or if someone opened the door at an unauthorized point. The cold chain is a digital ecosystem. Everything is connected,” Gómez commented.

Digitalization seeks not only efficiency, but also food and environmental security . In large cities, regulations already include limits on noise and emissions.

“Pollution isn’t just from carbon dioxide (CO₂), it’s also from noise. Delivering products in urban areas without generating noise is part of our environmental commitment,” he added.

Beyond technological innovations, the transition to temperature-controlled electric transport faces a paradox: it depends on an electrical system that is not ready to support it.

The growth of electromobility requires public and private investment in energy infrastructure , as well as clear regulatory frameworks and tax incentives. Otherwise, electrification could remain a short-term solution, confined to urban fleets.

“The technology is already here, but if there’s nowhere to plug it in, there’s no possible revolution,” the executive summarized.

Meanwhile, the cold chain continues to evolve, seeking a balance between sustainability and daily operations, between innovation and the country’s physical realities. This tension will define the future of Mexican logistics and transportation.

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El cargo Electrifying the cold chain: the invisible challenge of transportation in Mexico apareció primero en T21.