In an exciting step towards its net zero commitment, DFDS has added 10 zero-emission Sunswap electric transport refrigeration units (TRUs) as a permanent part of its cold chain operations in the UK, paving the way for a cleaner, more environmentally responsible future for cold chain transport.
The TRUs, developed and built by UK based Sunswap, were successfully trialled by DFDS in 2022 leading to the company’s order for 10 units to join its UK fleet in November 2024. They use a combination of solar and battery power to ensure frozen products can successfully be transported across the UK; our trials showed that on one of DFDS’s longest routes the TRU can provide 22 hours of cooling on a single charge over the course of two days.
Depending on conditions, the solar panels can typically provide 65 to 100% of the charge needed to operate the refrigeration unit, significantly reducing reliance on grid charging and costs. The average time to fully charge the TRU is 80 minutes.
Matt O’Dell, Managing Director of Logistics, England, DFDS, said:
“The Sunswap trailers provide a huge opportunity for us to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations and further strengthen our offering to customers. Our team has worked closely with Sunswap on this project and I’m very proud of all the hard work that has gone in to seeing the trailers arrive at our Peterborough depot ready for service.
“DFDS has ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We aim to achieve a 75% reduction in CO2e emissions intensity by 2030 and to be net zero by 2050, and so introducing the Sunswap trailers to our UK fleet is an exciting part of that. I believe it will be a shift away from legacy diesel technology for cold storage transport.”
This partnership between Sunswap and DFDS comes at a crucial time when the transport sector faces increasing regulatory pressure and growing consumer demand for more sustainable logistics solutions. By taking this bold step, DFDS is positioning itself at the forefront of more sustainable cold chain logistics, setting a new standard for the industry and paving the way for a cleaner, more environmentally responsible future in refrigerated transport.
Sunswap is Britain’s only dedicated fully electric TRU manufacturer. Its mission is to decarbonise the cold chain.
Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap noted:
“This is a defining moment for Sunswap and sustainable transport refrigeration. After five years of engineering innovation and extensive trials, seeing the first Sunswap units enter full-time service with DFDS marks the beginning of diesel-free cold chain operations at scale. DFDS has shown true industry leadership by being first to adopt this technology."
The successful partnership between DFDS and Sunswap has shown that a more environmentally friendly and operationally efficient alternative to diesel is possible. Based on findings from the earlier trials, it was established that a 10-year period of Sunswap TRU usage would amount to a 25 to 35% average cost of ownership saving in comparison to operating a diesel TRU.
