SPAR's Refrigerated Trucks reduce operating costs AND carbon emissions

16 June 2019


Keep an eye open for SPAR's truck #R7, running our PolarLi battery-powered electric refrigeration unit. Over a year of running, it has saved SPAR over 90% of their refrigeration operating costs and ~50% of their carbon emissions.


Maxwell and Spark, a Durban based lithium-ion battery manufacturing business that specialises in mobile energy storage created a custom solutuon for SPAR's logistics department. With SPAR's support they built the world’s first commercially available battery-electric truck refrigeration system.

The PolarLi electric truck fridge system can replace the standard diesel truck fridge, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. Over an 8 to 10-year life span, users can expect to save on average more than 50% of total running costs per fridge, mostly made up of fuel and servicing.

The PolarLi system recharges its batteries in an average of 30 minutes and runs for up to 20 hours between charges. There is both a fresh (0-5°C) and frozen (-20°C) variant.

Solly Engelbrecht, Group Logistics Executive of The SPAR Group South Africa, explains: “At SPAR, we support local and innovative businesses. Maxwell and Spark’s electric truck fridge has given us a quiet and efficient cooling option for our trucks, and we are in the process of rolling out more of the PolarLi systems in our fleet.”