Wickham Freight Lines adopts Australia’s first solar-charged electric refrigerated trailer

Wickham Freight Lines has become the first Australian transport operator to implement the Sunswap Endurance, a fully battery-electric and solar-charged refrigerated trailer unit. The technology was provided by Protran Solutions and fitted onto a new FTE refrigerated trailer.

The decision followed real-world field testing on a route between Sydney and Brisbane. During this trial, the unit covered 1,671 kilometers over 32 hours, maintaining 67 percent battery capacity by the end of the run.

Graham Keogh, Director at Wickham Freight Lines, noted that the technology’s performance, reliability, and operational savings exceeded expectations, making it a commercially viable option for large fleets focused on cold chain freight. Protran Solutions Managing Director Grant Turner stated that the partnership and subsequent testing validated the technology's ability to perform under Australian operating conditions.