Wickham Freight Lines has become the first business in Australia to purchase a Sunswap Endurance fully battery-electric, solar-charged refrigerated trailer unit that promises to transform cold chain logistics across the nation.
The landmark purchase by one of the country’s largest privately owned transport companies marks a significant milestone in Australia’s transition toward zero-emission freight transport, with Wickham Freight Lines — a family-owned business headquartered in Warwick, Queensland — staking its claim as an industry pioneer committed to a greener, smarter future.
The decision followed a real-world operation from Sydney to Brisbane and back. The Sydney to Brisbane run covered 1,671km over 32 hours and finished with 67 per cent of the battery remaining.
Prior to this Wickham Freight Lines field tested a demonstrator trailer provided by exclusive Australian distributor Protran Solutions.
Wickham Freight Lines Director Graham Keogh says the results spoke for themselves. “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. I’m a true believer. I love the technology and I’m not a true tech person whatsoever. You can just see that it’s a winner,” he says.
“The performance, reliability and operational savings were beyond what we expected. For a business like ours running a large fleet across the east coast, with a heavy focus on refrigerated and cold chain freight, this technology makes real commercial sense.
“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. The Sunswap Endurance Unit passed every test we threw at it. The energy savings are real, the cold chain performance is exactly what our customers expect, and completing that kind of distance with more than half the battery still in reserve tells you everything about the reliability of this system.
“We’re proud to be the first in Australia to commit to it, and we see this as the beginning of a broader shift in how we power our fleet.”
Protran Solutions Managing Director Grant Turner says the field trial validated everything the team had set out to prove — and then some.
Above: Protran Solutions Managing Director Grant Turner and Wickham Freight Lines Director Graham Keogh
“Partnering with Wickham Freight Lines to deliver Australia’s very first Sunswap Endurance Unit is a proud moment for the entire Protran Solutions team. Wickhams are exactly the kind of forward-thinking, family-driven business that understands the long-term value of investing in sustainable technology.
“Their field testing was thorough and demanding — which is precisely what a technology like this deserves. To have them commit to purchase after that process is the strongest possible endorsement. We look forward to supporting them and to growing the Sunswap Endurance fleet right across Australia,” he says.
Turner says having Wickham Freight Lines as Australia’s first Sunswap Endurance customer speaks volumes about the credibility of both the technology and the relationship.
“The company has been delivering freight along Australia’s east coast for over three decades. The company built its reputation on reliability, safety and service — and it protects that reputation carefully. Investing in new technology is never taken lightly. That’s what makes the decision so significant,” adds.
The Sunswap Endurance unit is a purpose-built, industrial-grade battery-electric refrigeration system designed from the ground up to operate independently of diesel power, e-axles and truck-derived electrical systems.
Integrated solar panels replenish the battery continuously during daylight operation, while the high-capacity battery bank ensures uninterrupted performance through overnight transits, loading dock wait times and extended runs where sun isn’t always available.
For Australian cold chain operators, Turner says the commercial case is compelling. “Refrigeration fuel costs are eliminated. Maintenance complexity drops significantly — no diesel engine to service, no fuel filters, no exhaust systems. The unit operates quietly enough for noise-sensitive urban areas and overnight delivery windows.
“The field trial between major cities in Australia wasn’t just a test run — it was a proof of concept for the entire east coast refrigerated freight market.
“And Wickham Freight Lines has proven it.”