Cold chain
Wickham Freight Lines puts Australia's first fully electric solar-charged reefer trailer into service
Australian operator Wickham Freight Lines has taken delivery of a fully battery-electric, solar-charged refrigerated trailer based on the Sunswap Endurance platform. A 1,671-km Sydney–Brisbane trial ended with 67% battery charge remaining, and the company plans to integrate the technology into its east-coast fleet.
Wickham Freight Lines, an Australian transport operator, has taken delivery of what it describes as the country's first fully battery-electric, solar-charged refrigerated trailer. The unit is built on the Sunswap Endurance platform, developed by British manufacturer Sunswap and distributed in Australia by Protran.
The system replaces conventional diesel-powered refrigeration with a battery pack charged through rooftop solar panels and external charging between journeys. According to Sunswap, solar generation can cover up to 80% of annual refrigeration energy requirements. The manufacturer claims the following performance on a single battery charge:
- frozen temperatures maintained for over 24 hours
- multi-temperature operation for more than two days
- chilled conditions for up to two months
Sunswap also reports potential operating cost reductions of up to 81% and total ownership cost savings of up to 43% compared with diesel refrigeration.
Before the purchase, Wickham Freight Lines ran a 1,671-kilometre trial between Sydney and Brisbane. The 32-hour journey ended with 67% battery charge remaining.
The company operates refrigerated freight services across Australia's east coast and plans to integrate the technology into its fleet.
© Wickham Freight Lines
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