REFRIGERATION APPARATUS WITH PRECOOLING FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES

A refrigeration apparatus 20 for use in a battery electric vehicle 1 having a traction battery 4 for driving the electric vehicle and a refrigerated compartment 5 that, in use, is cooled by the refrigeration apparatus, the refrigeration apparatus comprising: a power supply system 26 for powering a refrigeration unit of the refrigeration apparatus, the power supply system comprising a controller 28; wherein the power supply system is configured to be connected to the traction battery and the controller is configured to monitor a charge level of the traction battery; wherein the power supply system is configured to draw power for the refrigeration unit from the traction battery; wherein the controller is configured with a pre-cooling mode to be used during a period of charging of the traction battery from a mains power source; and wherein the pre-cooling mode comprises authorising the power supply system to supply power to the refrigeration unit from the traction battery in response to the charge level of the traction battery exceeding a predetermined threshold for pre-cooling of the refrigerated compartment of the electric vehicle. A method of operating the refrigeration apparatus is also provided.