Protran Solutions Launches World-First Solar-Powered Refrigerated Trailers on Australian Roads
Designed for real-world Australian conditions, the Protran-supplied solar trailer thrives on long-haul routes.
Australian Cold Chain Logistics Is About to Run on Sunshine
Protran Solutions, Australia’s leading transport refrigeration specialist, is bringing a world-first innovation to local roads with the launch of the Sunswap Endurance. This fully solar-powered refrigerated trailer keeps food cold without burning a single drop of diesel.
This is no prototype or concept unit. The Sunswap Endurance is already a proven performer, delivering fresh food daily for major retailers across the UK and Europe. Now, through Protran Solutions’ exclusive Australian distribution partnership, the technology is arriving where it was arguably always destined to thrive — under Australian skies.
Sydney–Brisbane–Sydney return trip over three days, running entirely on solar power. Not a single litre of diesel was used.
Not a single litre of diesel was consumed.
Protran Solutions has already put the Sunswap Endurance through its first major local test: a gruelling 1,600 km Sydney–Brisbane–Sydney return journey completed in just three days, running entirely on solar power. Not a single litre of diesel was consumed.
The technology is elegantly simple. Solar panels mounted across the trailer roof continuously charge onboard batteries, which power the refrigeration system. The batteries can also be topped up from the grid overnight if required. The result is zero diesel use and zero tailpipe emissions.
Just Australian sunshine keeps milk, meat and vegetables at the correct temperature, all the way from the farm gate to supermarket shelf.
“Australia’s sunshine is perfect for this technology,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap.
“We’re proud to be partnering with Protran Solutions, one of Australia’s emerging leaders in transport refrigeration, to bring the Sunswap Endurance to the Australian market. This is the same world-class unit delivering groceries across the UK, Europe and South America, and now Australian operators will have the opportunity to realise zero-emissions refrigeration from day one.”
Protran Solutions, an Australian transport refrigeration specialist with more than 30 years of industry experience, has secured exclusive rights to distribute the Sunswap Endurance across Australia. The first units are already operating in local trials with cold-chain operators, and Protran has signed its first customer following the initial Australian evaluation.
Sunswap recently travelled more than 1,600 km on a
More sun means more power
“Australian sunshine has always been a challenge for diesel refrigeration,” said Grant Turner, General Manager of Protran Solutions. “The harder the sun beats down, the harder diesel units work, and the more fuel they burn.
“The Sunswap Endurance flips that equation entirely. More sun means more power, exactly when you need it most. There’s no fuel tank, no e-axles, and no payload penalty from oversized battery systems. It’s a genuinely next-generation cold-chain solution for Australian conditions.
“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 rapidly to meet international demand across six global markets. In Australia, Protran Solutions will manage the whole supply chain, from delivery and installation through to ongoing maintenance and cold-chain compliance, ensuring operators receive not only a world-class product, but world-class support.
As the first Sunswap Endurance trailers, easily identified by their rooftop solar arrays and “Making Australian sunshine work harder” branding, roll out across Australian highways under the Protran Solutions banner, the message to the transport industry is clear:
The future of refrigerated freight in Australia is already here.
Sunswap is powered by the sun, no diesel, no e-axle, pure solar powered
