Botanic Energy Ltd – Zero-Emission Refrigerated System for Last Mile Delivery Vehicle
Botanic Energy’s transformative zero-emission on-vehicle technology integrates energy storage and management with power electronics, providing a lightweight, temperature-controlled transport system for the last-mile delivery of perishables, such as food and pharmaceuticals. Botanic’s cooling systems will be integrated into Sainsbury’s last-mile delivery vehicles with independent validation by Cambridge Refrigeration Technology.

Botanic Energy develops solid-state cooling and heating systems that are more efficient than conventional solutions, with no moving parts or refrigerants. The solution offers savings in upfront and operational costs and reductions in energy use and emissions.
Botanic’s thermoelectric core heat transfer “Matrix” can be tailored to specific vehicle applications, and is lighter and more compact than existing equipment, simpler to manufacture, and easier to maintain.
Project Highlights:
- Delivery a of a last-mile delivery vehicle demonstrator
- Gathering and analysis of key performance data to support scaling up and commercialisation of this innovative freight cooling and heating system.
- Replacing diesel-driven vapour compression transport refrigeration with Botanic’s energy-efficient solid-state systems, making zero-emission transport refrigeration units for cold chain logistics a reality.
A collaborative project uniting the collective expertise of:
Botanic Energy (cooling, refrigeration, vehicle integration)
Oxford University (lab-support, testing)
Cambridge Refrigeration Technology (independent validation)
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets (refrigerated vehicles, compartments, field testing).