ADDPLUGIN · Project

Plug-In Electric Kit That Eliminates Diesel Use in Truck Refrigeration Units

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Every time a refrigerated truck brakes or slows down, energy is wasted as heat. AddVolt built a device that captures that braking energy, stores it in a battery pack, and uses it to power the truck's refrigeration unit and lift gates — completely replacing the secondary diesel engine that normally runs them. Think of it like a power bank for your phone, except it charges itself from the truck's own motion and keeps the cargo cold without burning a single drop of extra diesel. The system plugs in without modifying the truck itself and connects to the cloud for monitoring.

By the numbers

87-100%

Fuel savings on HDV refrigeration unit diesel consumption

1.1 million

Refrigerated trucks in Europe

4 million+

Refrigerated trucks worldwide

The business problem

What needed solving

Refrigerated trucks burn diesel not just to drive, but to run a separate engine that powers the refrigeration unit keeping cargo cold. This secondary diesel engine adds significant fuel costs, CO2 emissions, noise pollution, and maintenance overhead. With over 1.1 million refrigerated trucks in Europe, fleet operators are under growing pressure from emission regulations and rising fuel prices — yet have had no practical way to electrify auxiliary power without replacing entire vehicles.

The solution

What was built

AddVolt built a plug-in electric power pack that captures regenerative braking energy from heavy-duty vehicles, stores it, and uses it to power auxiliary units like refrigeration systems and lift gates — completely replacing the secondary diesel engine. The system was tested across multiple vehicle brands and models in paid pilot programs under varied operating conditions and climatic environments.

Audience

Who needs this

Refrigerated transport fleet operators looking to cut diesel costs and emissionsSupermarket chains and food distributors with their own cold chain fleetsTruck and trailer OEMs wanting to offer electrified auxiliary power optionsLast-mile cold delivery companies operating in urban low-emission zonesLogistics companies under pressure to meet corporate sustainability targets

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Cold chain logistics

any

Target: Refrigerated transport and last-mile cold delivery companies

If you are a cold chain logistics operator dealing with rising diesel costs and tightening emissions regulations for your refrigerated fleet — this project developed a plug-in electric system that recovers braking energy to power refrigeration units, cutting fuel expenditure on refrigeration by 87-100%. With 1.1 million refrigerated trucks in Europe alone, the savings potential across a fleet is massive.

Food retail and distribution

enterprise

Target: Supermarket chains and food distributors operating their own refrigerated fleets

If you are a food retailer or distributor running refrigerated delivery trucks to stores and warehouses — this device eliminates diesel consumption for your truck refrigeration units entirely. It installs non-invasively on existing vehicles, meaning no fleet downtime for modification, and the cloud-connected system lets you monitor energy use across your entire fleet in real time.

Truck and trailer manufacturing

enterprise

Target: OEMs and body builders producing refrigerated trucks and trailers

If you are a truck OEM or body builder looking to offer electrified auxiliary power as a factory option — AddVolt developed a patented, vehicle-brand-agnostic solution tested across multiple vehicle models and brands. Their demo program specifically targeted OEM and body builder partnerships, making this a ready integration opportunity for your product line.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does the AddVolt system cost per vehicle?

The project data does not disclose unit pricing. However, the system delivers 87-100% fuel savings on refrigeration unit diesel consumption, so payback period can be estimated against your current per-truck diesel spend on refrigeration. Contact the coordinator for pricing details.

Can this scale to a large fleet of hundreds of trucks?

The system was designed as a plug-in, non-invasive device that can be installed on any heavy-duty vehicle without modifications. Demo testing covered multiple vehicle brands and models under different operating conditions and climatic environments, specifically to produce a uniform solution. Cloud connectivity enables fleet-wide monitoring.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

AddVolt SA holds patents on the technology (described as 'patented solution' in the project objectives). As a single-partner SME Instrument project, all IP sits with AddVolt. Licensing or OEM integration discussions would go through them directly.

Does this work with fully electric trucks, not just diesel?

Yes. The project explicitly states the system can work alongside fully electric vehicles, increasing their capacity and autonomy by recovering braking energy for auxiliary loads. This makes it relevant even as fleets transition away from diesel.

Has this been tested in real operating conditions?

The project ran paid pilot programs across several vehicles of different brands, testing multiple operating regimes, mechanical stresses, energy requirements, and climatic conditions. These were real-world demonstrations aimed at validating both the technology and the go-to-market model.

What regulations does this help me comply with?

The system directly reduces CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicle auxiliary units by eliminating their diesel consumption. It also reduces operating noise significantly. Based on available project data, this aligns with EU low-carbon economy transition goals and increasingly strict urban emission zones.

How complex is the installation on existing trucks?

The system is described as non-invasive and plug-in, meaning it does not require structural modifications to the vehicle. Based on the demo program testing across multiple vehicle brands and models, it was designed for straightforward aftermarket installation on any HDV.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: AddVolt SA, a Portuguese SME and private commercial entity, received SME Instrument Phase 2 funding. The 100% industry and SME ratio means all IP and know-how sits in one commercially motivated company — there is no academic partner to complicate licensing. This is the simplest possible structure for a business buyer: one company to negotiate with, one decision-maker, clear commercial intent from day one. AddVolt describes itself as a technology start-up with a patented product and an active website (addvolt.com).

How to reach the team

AddVolt SA is based in Portugal. Check addvolt.com for direct contact or use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the AddVolt team to discuss fleet integration or OEM partnerships? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right person.

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