Trailer lessor to test Sunswap’s solar reefer units

European trailer leasing company TIP Group will offer refrigerated trailers equipped with Sunswap’s battery- and solar-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) starting this summer through a new 12-month pilot program.

The units use “cutting-edge” technology to provide reliable and sustainable cooling, removing the need for traditional diesel-powered refrigeration systems and helping to decarbonize the transportation industry’s cold chain, TIP said.

The new “Endurance” pilot follows other recent innovative technologies launched by TIP in recent months, including “E-reefers” that use the net to power their batteries, and “AxlePower,” which uses the reefer trailer’s lost energy as a TRU power source. TIP already ordered 40 of Sunswap’s TRUs, with the first slated to enter service in August.

“I am excited by how TIP Group and Sunswap can support fleet operators throughout Europe to break their dependence on diesel and transition towards environmentally friendly technology to reach net zero targets,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of U.K.-based Sunswap. “The industry continues to step up and is ready to meet the demand for our tried and tested, cost-effective, sustainable transport refrigeration solution.”

Interim results from the pilot will be announced later this year, TIP said. The Sunswap system is fully electric and, depending on conditions, the solar panels typically can provide 65% to 100% of the charge needed to operate the refrigeration unit. This free green energy considerably reduces reliance on grid charging and costs. This will not only decrease a fleet’s carbon footprint but also provide a reliable source of energy to extend the TRU’s range.

Once the pilot project is completed, the technology could be deployed more widely by TIP, providing a best-practice solution.

An advanced solar panel technology

The purpose of the pilot is to run the reefers completely on electricity during working hours, TIP said. This system will be tested using electricity from solar panels, which save fleet operators up to 90% of the operating cost of a diesel refrigerator.

Every component in the Endurance has been designed to use as little power from the battery as possible, without compromising on performance. Another advantage is the adaptive battery capacity, which allows the customer to optimize their drive by only carrying the weight needed.

Fast onboard charges and solar panels mean the unit can be fully recharged without any additional downtime between routes. Previous trials have shown that a single charge can power the system for:

• 24 hours at frozen temperatures
• 2 days at multiple compartment temperatures
• 3 months at chilled temperatures (using free clean solar energy)

The units are able to complete the same delivery cycles as diesel units without any operational disruption, making the Endurance a promising alternative to diesel fridges.

“Our partnership with Sunswap allows us to offer our customers another sustainable solution for their refrigerated trailer fleet management needs,” said Rogier Laan, vice president of sales and marketing at TIP Group. “We are excited to be at the forefront of the industry in implementing green technology to reduce our carbon footprint.”