Cooled by the sun: Sunswap’s solar-powered electric transport refrigeration unit
- PostedPublished 19 April 2024
Sunswap, a UK-based clean-tech company, is on a mission to revolutionise the global cold chain industry with its groundbreaking solar and battery-powered transport refrigeration unit.
The company, founded by Michael Lowe, Nikolai Tauber, and Andrew Sucis in January 2020, is driven by the goal of disrupting and decarbonising the reefer sector through their innovative technology.
With fewer resources than their competitors, Sunswap’s biggest challenge to date has been creating a new product on a limited budget. However, despite these hurdles, the team has managed to find innovative solutions to overcome their resource limitations while securing funding through an accelerator program, a crowdfunding campaign, and investments from the Clean Growth Fund, which supports and invests in innovative UK-based solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Named the Endurance, this groundbreaking transport refrigeration unit is purpose-built to be powered by batteries and solar energy. It is designed to provide a practical and zero-emission solution for fleet operators that need to decarbonise their cold chain operations without sacrificing efficiency or cost-effectiveness, and is the world’s first of its kind, promising a viable alternative to traditional diesel-powered units.
One of the key features of Endurance is its ability to provide 22 hours of cooling on a single charge, eliminating the need for diesel and reducing emissions to zero.
Adaptive battery capacity enables operators to precisely match battery size to delivery cycle. This means that the unit provides the right amount of power without unnecessary weight or cost. By optimising the battery pack size, Endurance weighs 10–20 per cent less than diesel counterparts with their smallest fuel tanks.
Versatility is another key aspect of Endurance. It offers temperature control configurations ranging from -25°C to +25°C, with pull-down times that match diesel performance while maintaining energy efficiency, while the solar array reduces reliance on traditional power sources and lowers operational costs by up to 86 per cent throughout the year according to Sunswap.
The Endurance has a charging unit designed for speed and simplicity, with two mains charging options available; a 32A 3 Phase Commando Socket and a Type 2 EV Socket eliminating the need for specialised charging stations to aid a hassle-free transition to electric.
Sunswap says that because Endurance operates at a low voltage, it ensures a safer working environment without the combustion risk associated with higher-voltage systems.
To maximise uptime and performance, the Endurance unit features cloud prognostics and over-the-air updates to continuously monitor system conditions and performance, identifying issues before they become problematic. In addition, remote fleet management is made possible with 4G connectivity, enabling operators to monitor and control their Endurance units from anywhere in the world.
Sunswap’s Endurance can be easily installed on any trailer and has a claimed lifespan of more than 10 years. It also holds the necessary PIEK certification, ensuring noise levels remain below 60dB during operation, and is ATP certified for the transportation of perishable goods across Europe.
These credentials and ever-increasing demand from logistics companies have led Sunswap to enter into a production partnership with Prodrive, a renowned engineering firm known for its involvement in motorsports.
Sunswap’s strategic collaboration with Prodrive should enhance its manufacturing capabilities and enable production of the Endurance refrigeration to scale up.
“We’re excited to be collaborating with Prodrive to ensure our production units meet the highest manufacturing standards, said Sunswap co-founder and COO Andrew Sucis.
“When we first met them, they immediately gave us confidence due to their depth of experience and understanding.”
As well as motorsport, Prodrive’s extensive engineering expertise and wide-ranging experience in sectors such as automotive, commercial, aerospace, and defence, is hoped to expedite Sunswap’s journey towards mass production.
“We are proud to be working with Sunswap on the manufacture of their units to help deliver the highest level of efficiency and durability, said Prodrive Advanced Technology MD Iain Roche.
“They’re a passionate team dedicated to decarbonising the cold chain industry, and we’re pleased to be part of their innovative journey.”
The collaboration between Prodrive and Sunswap is already underway at their research and development facility in Surrey, where engineers from both companies are actively working together to optimise the final version that is anticipated to be ready for the assembly production line early this year.
Sunswap is currently pursuing additional orders from logistics companies that have already completed successful trials of the technology. Major players in the industry, such as DFDS and Müller Milk & Dairy, have already used Sunswap’s technology to deliver thousands of tonnes of produce. In addition, Freshlinc, TIPP, and Bannister Transport are currently in the process of trialling and evaluating Sunswap’s Endurance reefer across their networks, with the aim of soon implementing the hardware.
In addition to these ongoing trials, Sunswap has recently achieved a significant milestone by securing orders from Samworth Brothers, a leading UK food manufacturer with 12,500 employees, after the company was impressed with performance of the Endurance during trials, which proved to be effective in preventing the release of 600g of nitrogen oxides and 65kg of carbon dioxide emissions that would have otherwise been emitted by traditional diesel units.
Moreover, feasibility testing has also shown a significant cost-saving of A$417 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions reduced. With such compelling benefits, Sunswap’s Endurance reefer promises to be a highly cost-effective choice for Samworth Brothers as it plans to integrate zero-emissions technology into its 2024 fleet upgrade and contribute to sustainability goals.
Samworth Brothers general manager Alistair Leckie commented: “We are eager to take delivery of the new zero-emission fleet.
“Responsible business is a key part of what we do, and we are always looking for innovative solutions that support our business without being at odds with the ecosystem or pumping out greenhouse gases. We believe this collaboration with Sunswap will bring that key combination of environmental and operational benefit.”
The long-term impact of this collaboration is even more significant; over a 10-year period, Samworth Brothers’ fleet of Sunswap refrigeration units is expected to reduce tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions by 450 tonnes and overall emissions by 387 tonnes. Additionally, the fleet will abate 4.4 tonnes of nitrogen oxide emissions compared to the current diesel setup.
Sunswap CEO Michael Lowe added: “It’s both exciting and immensely satisfying to partner up with a leading producer and distributor like Samworth Brothers, who firmly recognise the value of our battery and solar-powered refrigeration technology. As advocates and pioneers of sustainable cold chain logistics, Samworth’s commitment demonstrates the environmental and commercial benefits available to fleets who are ready to make the transition to cleaner refrigeration on the road.”
The collaboration between Sunswap and cold chain operators presents a significant milestone in reducing environmental impact and ownership costs.
Beyond this, Sunswap’s innovations have the potential to reduce reliance on diesel refrigeration units across the cold chain, minimising harmful emissions and particulate matter, whilst paving the way to make a lasting impact on the sector.
- CategoriesIn SightGlass
- Tagsreefer, refrigerated transport, refrigerated trucks, SightGlass News Issue 32, transport, transport refrigeration, trucks