Protran Solutions tests Sunswap solar-powered refrigerated trailer

The trial involved a 1,671-kilometre round trip over 32 hours of continuous operation. The trailer used 85.9 kWh of energy (27 kWh from battery, 58.9 kWh from solar) and had 62% battery capacity remaining. This reduced diesel consumption by 64 litres and avoided 172 kg of carbon emissions. The system maintained precise temperature control for frozen and chilled freight, handling -25°C to ambient. Sunswap claims its technology delivers up to 81% reduction in operating costs and is already used in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Chile. Quotes: - "Protran Solutions announced a semi towing a solar-powered refrigerated trailer manufactured by United Kingdom-based Sunswap has successfully completed a 1,671-kilometre round trip between Sydney and Brisbane, running entirely on battery and solar power." - "demonstrated exceptional performance over 32 hours of continuous operation, transporting temperature-sensitive freight without any external power input from the truck, trailer, or grid infrastructure." - "Results from the trial show the trailer used a total of 85.9 kWh of energy, with 27 kWh coming from the battery and 58.9 kWh generated by solar with 62% battery capacity remaining at the end of the trip." - "The use of the solar power reduced diesel consumption by 64 litres of diesel and avoided 172 kg of carbon emissions." - "The Sunswap Endurance system has proven it can handle the Sydney-Brisbane return route while maintaining precise temperature control for frozen and chilled freight types, all without consuming a single drop of diesel for refrigeration." - "The units handle -25°C frozen to ambient temperature control." - "Sunswap said its technology delivers not just a zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered transport refrigeration systems commonly used in cold-chain logistics but provides up to 81% reduction in operating costs." - "Sunswap said its Endurance units are already being used across the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Chile, and production is scaling rapidly to meet international demand."