Ontario-based clean-tech startup Reefers Technologies is developing a retrofit waste-heat recovery system designed to eliminate the need for secondary diesel engines in refrigerated trailers, helping fleets cut fuel costs and emissions.

The system captures heat normally wasted from the truck’s main engine using a heat exchanger and turbine, converting it into electricity to power the reefer unit, the company said in a news release, adding this replaces the need for a separate diesel-powered engine and fuel tank. A built-in battery pack provides up to six hours of cooling power when the truck is idling or parked, and the system can also connect to an external power source when available.

For fleets that leave trailers parked for extended periods, Reefers offers a hybrid setup that uses the waste-heat system during operation while keeping the diesel unit as a backup. The company says this configuration ensures reliability as fleets transition to cleaner technologies.

“Our founder, a mechanical engineer who grew up in a family of mechanics, has always been driven to improve engine efficiency,” the release reads. “This project combines that passion with a clear sustainability mission.”

The technology aims to address two major challenges in the refrigerated transport sector — reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and bridging the gap until full-electric trucks and reefers become commercially viable. Reefers Technologies claims its system offers a cost-effective, scalable alternative that can be integrated into both existing and new fleets.

The company is finalizing its research and development and preparing for a pilot project with a fleet customer, prior to a broader market launch.