An Australian transport refrigeration specialist has revealed the world’s very first solar-powered refrigerated trailers that are set to run on Australian roads.
Protran Solutions has launched the Sunswap Endurance, a solar-powered refrigerated trailer that aims to keep food cold without diesel.
The Sunswap Endurance has been working to deliver fresh food for major UK and European retailers, with Protran Solutions’ exclusive Australian distribution partnership allowing the technology to arrive locally.
The Sunswap Endurance has already completed a 1,600km return trip from Sydney to Brisbane in three days, running on solar power.
The design sees solar panels mounted across the trailer roof to continuously charge onboard batteries that power the refrigeration unit, with batteries also able to be topped up from the grid overnight.
“Australia’s sunshine is perfect for this technology,” Sunswap CEO Michael Lowe says.
“We’re proud that Protran Solutions, one of Australia’s emerging names in transport refrigeration, is partnering with Sunswap to distribute the Endurance model to the Australian market. It’s the same world-class unit delivering groceries across the UK, Europe and South America, and now, Australian operators will have the opportunity to partner with Protran Solutions to see the benefits Sunswap Endurance will provide to their fleets which will include zero emissions from day one.”
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Protran Solutions, with more than 30 years of Australian transport refrigeration experience, has secured the exclusive rights to distribute the product across Australia.
The first units are already in trial operations with cold chain operators, and Protran Solutions has already signed up its first customer after the first trial run of the trailer was completed.
“Australian sunshine has always been a challenge for diesel refrigeration — the harder it beats down, the harder those units work, and the more fuel they burn,” Protran Solutions general manager Grant Turner says.
“The Sunswap Endurance flips that equation entirely. More sun means more power, exactly when you need it most. The system is so simple. No need for fuel tanks, no need for e-axles and no payload weight disadvantage for batteries. It truly is the next generation of cold chain green solutions for the Australian market.
“Protran is proud to be the company bringing this world-class technology to Australian operators.”
The Sunswap Endurance is manufactured at Sunswap’s facility in Surrey, UK, where production is scaling to meet growing international demand across six markets.
In Australia, Protran Solutions will manage the full supply chain — from delivery and installation through to ongoing maintenance and cold-chain compliance.
The first Sunswap Endurance trailers will feature distinctive rooftop solar panels and ‘Making Australian sunshine work harder’ branding.
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