In Pictures: Wickham Freight Lines buys Australia's first solar-charged battery-electric refrigeration unit after 1,671 km trial

Wickham Freight Lines' new solar-charged battery-electric refrigeration unit joins the fleet after a successful 1,671 km trial.

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The battery-electric reefer unit is designed for long-haul routes like the Sydney-Brisbane corridor.

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Electric refrigeration technology is gaining ground as operators seek to cut emissions from cold-chain transport.

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Sunswap's unit, supplied via distributor Protran, is the first of its kind delivered in Australia.

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The 1,671 km round trip demonstrated the unit could handle long-distance freight with charge to spare.

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Wickham Freight Lines says the solar-charged system finished the trial with 67 percent battery charge remaining.

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Battery-electric transport is expanding across vehicle classes as charging infrastructure improves.

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Fleet operators are increasingly pairing electric vans and trucks with depot charging to reduce running costs.

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Solar charging offers a renewable path to powering refrigerated transport without diesel.

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