Sunswap electric TRU endures trial by sun
10th August 2024
UK: Sunswap has successfully completed a 10-day trial of its battery and solar-powered Endurance transport refrigeration unit with Moran Logistics, a leading UK multi-temperature logistics specialist.
The system was put on real-world routes for Moran’s contract with Arla Foods, the fifth biggest dairy company in the world. The trial effectively demonstrated Sunswap Endurance’s performance in transporting chilled goods at 2°C.
A standout feature of the trial wassail to be its impressive demonstration of solar power. Data shows that Endurance was capable of operating solely on solar energy throughout the entire trial period, highlighting the substantial impact of solar energy.
The solar panels fixed to the trailer’s roof are a key element of the Sunswap system, reducing the need for grid charging, increasing range flexibility, and lowering costs by minimising the need for additional battery modules.
To fully explore Endurance’s capabilities, the Moran team used both solar power and grid charging, allowing them to understand the system’s versatility and ease of integration into their existing operations.
This trial builds upon Sunswap’s previous successful trials, such as those with Muller and GIST, which ran entirely on solar power for two weeks.
The Sunswap Endurance unit is said to offer a 79% reduction in operational expenses and a 27% decrease in total cost of ownership compared to traditional diesel units.
Sunswap estimates that if Moran were to equip 260 trailers with Sunswap Endurance units, the company could eliminate 26,979 tonnes of CO2 and remove 261 tonnes of NOx from the atmosphere.
Related stories:
Müller trials zero-emission transport refrigeration – 30 August 2023
UK: Müller Milk & Ingredients is trialling solar panels and kinetic energy for its refrigerated trailers, as an alternative to refrigeration powered by diesel engines. Read more…
GIST trials all-electric TRU – 22 April 2022
UK: Hampshire-based logistics specialist Gist is trialling Sunswap’s zero-emission, solar and battery powered transport refrigeration unit within its temperature controlled distribution fleet. Read more…
£3m boost for all-electric transport refrigeration – 28 March 2022
UK: Sunswap, the London-based company offering a fully electric, zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered transport refrigeration units, has received £3m investment from the UK’s Clean Growth Fund and Barclays. Read more…
DFDS to deploy zero-emission refrigerated trailer – 11 October 2021
UK: Global shipping and logistics company DFDS is the first client for the zero-emission transport refrigeration system developed by London-based start-up company Sunswap. Read more…
