Wickham Freight Lines has become the first Australian customer to purchase a Sunswap Endurance battery-electric trailer refrigeration unit, following an east coast trial that finished with 67 per cent battery charge remaining.
The Queensland-based operator tested the technology on a Sydney–Brisbane return operation, covering 1,671 kilometres over 32 hours. According to Australian distributor Protran Solutions, the demonstration gave Wickham the confidence to commit to a commercial purchase.
For refrigerated fleet operators, the result points to an opportunity to reduce diesel consumption and maintenance requirements while maintaining cold chain performance on long-distance routes.
Wickham Freight Lines Director Graham Keogh said the unit was put into normal fleet operations to assess its suitability.
“I put the Sunswap Endurance into the fleet and told the team to stretch it — treat it as a normal unit. We were genuinely impressed,” Keogh said.
“The performance, reliability and operational savings were beyond what we expected.”
Headquartered in Warwick, Wickham Freight Lines operates across Australia’s east coast, with refrigerated and cold chain freight forming a significant part of its business.
Keogh said maintaining delivery schedules and temperature requirements remained central to any equipment decision.
“We run a serious operation — refrigerated freight, long-distance runs, customers who rely on us to deliver on time and on temperature. Before we put any new technology into our fleet, we test it properly,” he said.
“The Sunswap Endurance Unit passed every test we threw at it.”
The Endurance system powers trailer refrigeration using batteries and integrated solar panels, operating independently of diesel engines, e-axles and electrical power from the truck.
Solar panels replenish the battery during daylight operation, while stored energy supports refrigeration overnight and during periods without sufficient sunlight. The reported battery level at the end of the trial therefore reflects operation with solar charging available.
Electrifying the refrigeration unit addresses a separate energy demand from the prime mover. It allows operators to reduce diesel use within an existing transport operation without first replacing the truck’s propulsion system.
Protran Solutions says removing the refrigeration unit’s diesel engine eliminates its diesel fuel consumption and reduces servicing requirements associated with engine oil, fuel filters and exhaust systems. Quieter operation also offers potential benefits for deliveries in noise-sensitive locations.
Protran Solutions Managing Director Grant Turner said Wickham’s purchase followed demanding field testing.
“To have them commit to purchase after that process is the strongest possible endorsement,” Turner said.
Protran Solutions is the exclusive Australian distributor for Sunswap battery-electric refrigeration units, providing supply, installation, maintenance and cold chain compliance services.
For fleet managers, Wickham’s purchase provides a practical example of testing alternative technology within an established operation, with reliability and commercial performance driving the investment decision.
