Sunswap expands into Australia with battery-electric refrigerated trailers

Sunswap is set to enter the Australian market through a strategic partnership with Protran Solutions, described in an accompanying statement as an ‘experienced transport refrigeration provider.’ This expansion to Australia follows market debuts in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Chile. The British company’s core product is its Endurance refrigeration units, which can be installed in commercial vehicles ranging from small cargo bikes to large articulated trailers. These units are powered by battery and/or solar energy, as the system relies on its own battery and solar panels mounted on vehicle roofs.

With its Endurance solution, Sunswap aims to provide an alternative to the widespread diesel-powered transport refrigeration systems. Among the manufacturer’s existing customers are Hireco, DFDS, Tesco, DLG, Ocado, and Noble Foods.”Operators are choosing Endurance because it handles demanding operations better than diesel while cutting costs dramatically,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap. “The environmental benefit is the outcome, not the compromise. That’s what’s driving adoption globally – fleets get better performance, lower costs, and zero emissions. The partnership with Protran brings that to Australian operators.”

The manufacturer promises ’24 hours of frozen operation from a single charge, with trailer-top solar extending range and reducing charging requirements.’ The units maintain temperatures ranging from -25 °C to ambient temperature. The onboard battery can be charged externally using alternating current. The refrigeration units are manufactured at Sunswap’s facility in Surrey, where the company recently expanded production, according to its own statements.

Protran Solutions will play a key role in Sunswap’s expansion into Australia. The transport refrigeration specialist will provide local sales, service, and technical support across the country. “European operations prove this technology works in demanding commercial use,” said Grant Turner at Protran Solutions. “Australian operators need refrigeration that performs reliably while reducing costs. Endurance delivers both.”

Sunswap is not yet present in Germany, but a German truck manufacturer has already expressed interest: in June 2024, MAN presented a combination of its battery-electric tractor unit, the eTGX, with a Sunswap refrigerated trailer to customers and press representatives.

sunswap.co.uk