Sunswap Endurance Battery Now Powers Tail-Lift on Noble Foods Urban Trailer

Sunswap has installed its Endurance electric refrigeration system on a Noble Foods urban delivery trailer, using the Endurance battery to charge the trailer's tail-lift battery for the first time. The move extends the system's role beyond refrigeration and eliminates the need for a charging connection to the tractor unit.

The trailer, built by Gray & Adams, uses a charging solution developed to address recurring problems with conventional tail-lift cables that can be lost, damaged, or stolen. By drawing power directly from the Endurance battery, the setup reduces dependence on the tractor's power supply and the need for engine idling during charging. The same battery also powers an onboard security camera and a warning light that alerts operators when its charge level is low.

Nikolai Tauber, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Sunswap, noted that this is the first time the Endurance battery has been used to charge a tail-lift battery alongside its primary role powering refrigeration. He described the engineered solution as one that removes reliance on a connection to the tractor and addresses a genuine operational challenge.

The installation follows one year of cooperation between Sunswap and Noble Foods. Across its fleet of 40 Endurance refrigeration units, Noble Foods has covered 3.3 million miles (5.3 million km), saved 48,700 litres (approximately 12,865 US gallons) of diesel, and avoided 126,514 kg (approximately 279,000 lb) of CO2 emissions. The fleet supports deliveries for brands including the happy egg co.

Ben Martin, Head of Logistics – Consumer Foods at Noble Foods, explained that the company wanted to address practical challenges its drivers face on urban delivery routes, particularly around tail-lift charging. He said Sunswap worked with Noble Foods to develop a solution that removes a common source of disruption and makes day-to-day operations easier.

Sunswap also provides fleet support through its Sunswap Shield service, which includes remote diagnostics, software updates, and technical and breakdown assistance. Endurance units collect data on temperature control, energy consumption, and unit performance, allowing operators to monitor refrigeration assets and identify potential issues.

Source: Refindustry.