Sunswap deploys electric reefers in Walmart Chile’s diesel-free operations
Key takeaways
- Sunswap’s electric reefers eliminate diesel in Walmart Chile routes.
- Operators report up to 81% lower refrigeration costs.
- Units use existing cold storage infrastructure and solar support, reducing barriers to electrifying refrigerated fleets.
Sunswap’s electric refrigeration units are now in live commercial operation in Chile within the Walmart Chile supply chain. The company, which develops integrated cold chain technology systems, is deploying its Endurance units through distribution partner Trailer Logistics on routes between Santiago, La Serena, and Concepción.
The deployment supports what Trailer Logistics describes as the first fully diesel-free logistics operation in Chile, with no diesel engine used in either the tractor or trailer. Sunswap’s system replaces diesel-powered refrigeration, addressing one of the remaining sources of fuel use in temperature-controlled transport.
The Endurance units operate using existing infrastructure at cold storage facilities and leverage high solar contribution in Chile to extend operational range and reduce charging costs. The system combines hardware, software, and service while continuously monitoring performance, energy consumption, temperature, and overall unit health to provide fleet visibility.
"Sunswap is now running in the supply chains of some of the world's most recognizable retailers—Tesco, Ocado, and DFDS in Europe; Carrefour in France; and now Walmart in South America,” Mike Lowe, CEO of Sunswap, stated. “But the reason global operators choose Sunswap isn't just that it keeps goods cold without diesel. It's that every unit we build is continuously watching the operation and improving it. Reducing cost, reducing maintenance, and giving operators more control."
