Scaling up electric refrigerated transport

Australia’s vast transport distances have always been a challenge for moving perishables from producer to consumer, and the cold chain typically relies on diesel to power the refrigeration units on trucks and trains. This results in both cost risks for transport operators and greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration units.

UK company Sunswap has invented fully electric, solar-assisted refrigeration units that are already proving their mettle in the UK, Europe and parts of South America.

“Cold chain logistics has relied on diesel-powered refrigeration for decades,” says Sunswap CEO and Co-founder, Michael Lowe. “The load stays cold, but everything else – the fuel cost, high maintenance, limited operational insights – has been accepted as the price of doing business.

“We built Endurance to change that calculation. The CEFC investment puts more units on Australian roads, giving operators access to electric refrigeration that cuts operating costs, handles Australian distances, and comes with the service infrastructure to back it up.”

Australian distribution partner Protran Solutions has demonstrated the feasibility, including completing a three-day journey taking frozen meat and chilled eggs more than 1,600km from Sydney to Brisbane. The pilot was a success, with no stops required for recharging the Endurance unit battery, and 62% charge remaining when the truck pulled into the depot.

“The Sydney to Brisbane trial run without recharging shows the technology performed in Australian conditions,” says Protran Solutions General Manager Grant Turner.

“This investment puts more of that capability on Australian roads, and I genuinely believe it’s the beginning of a significant shift for this industry.”

The CEFC investment will enable deployment of more than 100 Sunswap units across Australian refrigeration, retail and logistics fleets. It comes through the Powering Australia Technology Fund, which aims to accelerate the availability of the technology by addressing the barrier of upfront costs for manufacturing and importing advanced refrigeration units.

“Transport refrigeration is critical to Australia’s food and pharmaceutical supply chains,” says CEFC Head of Growth Capital, Malcolm Thornton.

“Supporting proven electric alternatives enables emissions reductions, improved air quality and lower operating costs for Australian businesses.”

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