System and method of controlling passage of refrigerant through eutectic plates and an evaporator of a refrigeration system for a container of a vehicle

A system comprising:

• a mode module configured to determine whether to operate in an engine mode or a battery mode based on a plurality of parameters;
• an engine module configured to, while operating in the engine mode, (i) run a compressor of a vehicle at a first speed, and (ii) permit passage of refrigerant through eutectic plates independent of a temperature within a temperature controlled container of the vehicle;
• a battery module configured to, while operating in the battery mode and based on the temperature within the temperature controlled container of the vehicle, (i) run the compressor at a second speed, and (ii) prevent passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates,
• wherein the second speed is less than or equal to the first speed;
• and
• a control module configured to, while the engine module is operating in the engine mode, have a battery of the vehicle charged using power received from at least one of a first electrical source driven by an engine of the vehicle or a second electrical source driven by a solar panel, wherein the first electrical source is an alternator or a generator, and
• wherein, while operating in the battery mode, the battery is not being charged from either the first electrical source or a shore power source.