Sunswap

You may have never heard of a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) – a hidden but critical component of global logistics. TRUs provide cold air to insulated trailers, for transporting items like fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.

Disrupting an industry long dominated by diesel incumbents, Sunswap’s electric TRU alternative is cheaper to run, easier to maintain, and smarter to operate.

A market ripe for change

There are approximately 3 million TRUs in the world today (growing to 4 million by 2035). Largely unchanged for decades, the majority of these TRUs are powered by diesel, and are:

• High-maintenance (diesel engines are the biggest cause of TRU breakdowns and servicing)
• Expensive to run (volatile diesel fuel costs raise total cost of ownership)
• Technologically outdated (with limited telematics, operators lack visibility over fleet performance)
• Environmentally damaging (diesel TRUs emit high quantities of nitrogen oxides and carcinogenic particulates, while also accounting for more than 20% of the CO2 produced by combined tractor-trailer units)

Previous attempts at innovation in the sector have failed, due to high costs and poor efficiency/usability of proposed solutions, such as the use of regenerative braking systems (where the kinetic energy of trailers is converted into electrical energy).

With operators replacing ~10% of their fleets every year, however, and many looking towards long-term decarbonisation, the industry is primed for disruption.

The Sunswap solution

Sunswap has developed the first 100% electric, drop-in replacement for diesel TRUs. Its design combines battery packs, roof-mounted solar panels, and intelligent software, to deliver lower lifetime costs and superior performance, without the emissions.

A key feature of Sunswap’s technology is the dual use and optimisation of solar energy and battery power: TRUs work far harder to keep contents cold in summer, when temperatures are raised, but sunlight is also more abundant.

The key benefits of Sunswap’s solution for operators include:

• Reduced maintenance, by eliminating the diesel engine
• Lower total cost of ownership, with 4-6-year payback vs diesel TRUs (within the typical asset lifetime of 8-10 years)
• Superior telematics, offering fleet managers new levels of insight and control
• Drop-in compatibility, meaning no costly changes to trailers or operations
• Net zero emissions (particularly valuable for customers seeking out zero carbon solutions within their supply chains)

Why we invested in Sunswap

BGF led Sunswap’s series B funding round in 2024, to help accelerate the roll-out of its technology across the UK and Europe. We’re excited to be backing Sunswap because of its:

Disruptive potential

We see Sunswap as a classic case of technology disrupting an industry that’s stuck in the past. It offers operators what they care about most – lower costs, less downtime, better data – while also aligning with the need and desire to decarbonise the global cold chain.

Commercially validated product

Commercial deployment and trials with leading operators, such as Tesco, DFDS and Birds Eye, have validated that Sunswap outperforms both incumbent TRUs and other low-carbon alternatives, all while being a drop-in replacement for existing units. With hundreds more units in the pipeline, the commercial use case for Sunswap’s technology is materialising at pace.

High-calibre leadership team

The business is led by three highly impressive, technical founders, all with backgrounds in engineering efficient TRU systems. Each founder has taken clear ownership for different parts of the business, forming a cohesive, engaged, and effective management team to drive the business forward.

With investment and scaling support from our team – alongside a large and growing market, strong customer validation, and a product that solves real customer pain points – Sunswap is well placed to become the leading next-generation TRU provider.