The Cost of Waiting to Electrify Your Transport Refrigeration

In the quiet yards of a distribution center outside Leeds, two logistics companies made very different decisions in 2025. The first invested in electric technology. Just across town, another operator decided to wait for the technology to mature, a decision that seemed financially prudent at the time.

Five years later, the financial performance tell a revealing story. Diesel fuel costs rose, the diesel kit needed more frequent maintenance and diesel transportation became less attractive to customers who put sustainability commitments as a priority. The first operator is now the preferred operator for premium contracts that increasingly demand low-carbon transport solutions. 

What appeared to be financial caution could transform into a costly miscalculation. 

That is because, today, several bits of research point to the fact that delaying the adoption of zero-emission transport comes with real opportunity costs. So let’s explore the true cost of waiting to switch to electric technology. 

The True Cost of Waiting 

Let's talk bottom line, because ultimately, that's what drives business decisions.

Looking first at cars ,where the technology is further ahead, this could either be your personal vehicle or a fleet for employees. £1,200 per vehicle per year. Thats the cost saving difference today between EVs and petrol vehicles. That means sticking with petrol across a fleet of just 10 vehicles would forego potential savings of approximately £60,000 over a five-year period. 

While electric trucks are less common in fleets, there is evidence of some substantial savings available. Electric trucks consume 70-80% less energy than diesel for the same distance, translating to substantial savings. For a truck covering 400,000 km, diesel fuel might cost €182,000, while electricity for an e-truck runs just €144,000. Real-world calculations shows that over 5 years of operation can save you €126,000 per truck. 

Maintenance also becomes refreshingly simple. Electric trucks save on average €3,750-€5,000 annually in maintenance costs compared to diesel counterparts. No oil changes, fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking that extends brake life all contribute to 20-30% lower maintenance expenses. 

The pattern is clear across electrification: early adopters capture the cost advantages while others wait. 

Sunswap's electric refrigeration delivers the same financial reality - up to 81% lower operating costs compared to diesel. The evidence isn't theoretical projection; it's proven performance from operators already running these units daily. 

The electrification evidence from cars and trucks shows what refrigeration operators have discovered - electric is cleaner and cheaper to run. You don’t have to choose between your bottom line and being sustainable. 

For refrigerated transport operators, combining electric trucks with zero-emission refrigeration create a financial double-win, slashing both vehicle and refrigeration operating costs simultaneously. 

The diesel-vs-electric financial equation has already tipped. The question is now how much money electric technology can save and who will capitalise on these savings first. 

Is Range Anxiety Justified? 

Let’s look again at electric trucks - they are no longer just for short city routes, the latest models from Volvo and MAN prove they can go the distance. 

• Volvo’s top e-truck (FH Aero Electric goes up to 600 km (373 miles) on a single charge.

• MAN’s newest models hit 750–800 km (466–497 miles) — perfect for regional and long-haul use

So yes, range anxiety is becoming an outdated fear. These electric trucks are built for serious work that competes with diesel trucks. 

Aurora Energy tells us that range concerns are being quickly addressed as battery sizes increase, and continued improvements are expected. Even today’s vehicle batteries are lasting longer and longer. 

For Sunswap Endurance, range concerns has been removed. Sunswap's battery and solar-powered refrigeration units operate for 24+ hours on frozen routes and up to 2 months for chilled deliveries on a single charge. Operators like Muller and Staples Vegetables have run these units entirely on solar power, with trailer-top panels generating all the energy needed for complete delivery cycles. 

Infrastructure Considerations 

Electric refrigeration removes the infrastructure barrier that holds back truck electrification. Sunswap Endurance can be charged from standard shore power connections already present at most depots - no specialised charging infrastructure required to begin operations today. 

As fleets scale to hundreds of electric units, power capacity planning becomes critical. The operators starting now are securing grid connections, negotiating energy contracts, and accessing government incentives while they're still available. 

Those waiting for "the perfect moment" will find themselves at the back of a very long queue in five years, watching competitors who started simple and scaled ahead with established infrastructure advantages. 

You don't need to delay adoption waiting for infrastructure. You can start today with existing connections, then build capacity as your electric fleet grows. 

Plus the infrastructure is already being built especially for trucks both from the UK government and privately. 

The government's £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Programme is creating 54 strategic charging hubs nationwide, from East Kilbride to Exeter, designed specifically for commercial electric vehicles. 

Private investment is accelerating charging capacity. Moto is installing 300 dedicated eHGV charging bays across 23 motorway superhubs by 2030, with the first locations opening in April 2025. GRIDSERVE's £100 million Electric Freightway project is establishing over 200 high-capacity chargers up to 350kW, with trials of even more powerful 1MW systems. 

The UK's first public eHGV charging hub has already opened at Able Humber Port in March 2025, featuring eight charging bays with up to 400kW power delivery—capable of rapidly recharging the largest commercial vehicles. 

Resale Value of Diesel Fleets Will Drop 

The writing is on the wall for diesel asset values. As zero-emission technology becomes mainstream, the secondary market for diesel vehicles is likely to be impacted.  

Buying a diesel truck or diesel transport refrigeration unit today means having diesel assets in 2035 which are likely to have much lower resale value. As regulations tighten and buyers vanish all this impacts the value of the assets your business owns. This isn't speculation, we're already seeing this happening in valuation of diesel cars. 

The First-Mover Advantage 

The first movers towards zero-emission technology aren't just feeling good about their environmental credentials, they are establishing themselves at the front of the market. 

1. Winning exclusive contracts: Zero-emission delivery is starting to appear in tenders. Early adopters secure business that diesel operators simply cannot bid for.

2. Banking operational savings: Electric fleets slash running costs while competitors absorb rising fuel prices and maintenance expenses.

3. Building competitive expertise: Today's switchers are mastering electric operations, training teams, and optimising processes while others watch from the sidelines.

The Real Cost of Delay 

Waiting for the "perfect moment" to adopt zero-emission technology is waiting for something that doesn't exist. 

Today's technology already delivers compelling performance and financial returns. Waiting five years won't just cost you the direct savings you could have captured, it risks leaving you scrambling to catch up in a market that's already moved on. 

The leaders have already left the station. Their electric refrigeration units are quietly humming across Britain's roads, powered by batteries and sunshine, delivering tangible cost advantages and winning premium contracts while building invaluable operational knowledge. 

The time to start that journey isn't next year or next quarter. 

It's today.