Skip to content
Enquire

WHY CHOOSE COOLABAH?

Fuel, servicing, downtime, noise - here are the numbers on how battery cab cooling stacks up against diesel.

Get a quote FIND AN AGENT

Why drivers and owners choose Coolabah

Whisper quiet

No engine, no vibration. Around 75% quieter than a diesel unit - under the 85dB level that makes long exposure hazardous.

Trusted by Australia's fleets

5,500+ units on the road, warranty-backed, with agents in every state.

Low downtime

About an hour of servicing every two years. Diesel wants 2+ hours every 250–1,000 running hours.

Lightweight

Minimal impact on range & chassis-mounted bulk. Significantly less impact on payload that diesel.

Clean and green

No carbon monoxide, no particulates. Run it anywhere, truck stop to residential street.

No fuel-tank space lost

Nothing hanging off the tank, and nothing burning diesel while you sleep.

Diesel unit vs Coolabah

Key benefit Traditional diesel unit Coolabah
Whisper quiet — Yes
Heating as standard — Yes
Low running cost — Yes
LFP lithium battery operated — Yes
Remote control Yes Yes
No exhaust fumes — Yes
Low carbon emissions — Yes
Lightweight — Yes
Eats into fuel capacity Often —
Low maintenance and downtime — Yes
Cost benefits

Save over $4,500 per truck, per year

Five-year cost of ownership. Coolabah saves more than $24,000 per truck.

Five-year cost of ownership

Australian dollars, ex GST
  • Installed cost
  • Servicing, 5 years
  • Energy, 5 years
Coolabah — Joey (5.5kWh) $16,180+
Coolabah — Joey (11kWh) $19,580+
Diesel unit $43,820+

$24,000+ saved per truck over five years versus a diesel unit

Basis of calculation. Five years at 200 working days a year. All figures are starting prices and exclude GST. Coolabah Joey 5.5kWh and 11kWh: installed from $12,300 and $15,700; servicing $1,500 over five years; alternator load at 17c an hour for 14 hours a day, $2,380. Diesel unit: installed from $13,700; an engine service every 300 hours, 40 services at $249, $9,960; fuel burn of 700ml an hour at $2.40 a litre for 12 hours a day, $20,160.

The numbers

Diesel versus Coolabah, measured

Diesel consumption

L / hr
Truck idling 3.6
Diesel A/C 0.7
Coolabah 0.17

-95% vs an idling truck

Noise level

Decibels
Diesel A/C 70
Coolabah 35

For reference: vacuum cleaner 70dB · normal conversation 60dB · refrigerator 40dB · a whisper 30dB.

11x quieter than diesel

Emissions

Grams / hr
  • CO (g/hr)
  • NOx (g/hr)
Truck idling 3.2 0.45
Diesel A/C 8.8 18.4
Coolabah 0.15 0.02

-99% vs a diesel A/C unit

Decibels are logarithmic — Coolabah is 11x quieter than a diesel-powered unit.

Noise above 85 decibels is considered hazardous where exposure exceeds 8 hours a day.

The range

Four units, one battery platform

the-possum

The Possum

Entry-level engine-off cooling for day cabs and smaller sleepers.

Voltage
12V / 24V
Mount
Rear wall

From $5,000 installed + GST

learn more →
the-kookaburra

The Kookaburra

The workhorse. Engine-off cooling and heating for most sleeper cabs.

Voltage
24V
Mount
Roof

From $10,000 installed + GST

learn more →
the-joey

The Joey

Compact unit for tight cab spaces without giving up runtime.

Voltage
24V
Mount
Under cab

From $12,300 installed + GST

learn more →
the-koala

The Koala

Our largest system for long-haul work and the hottest runs.

Voltage
24V
Mount
Rear wall

From $12,500 installed + GST

learn more →

Not sure which unit suits your truck? Check the fitment guide →