Refrigeration apparatus with precooling for battery electric vehicles

A refrigeration apparatus for use in a battery electric vehicle having a traction battery for driving the electric vehicle and a refrigerated compartment that, in use, is cooled by the refrigeration apparatus, the refrigeration apparatus comprising:

• a power supply system for powering a refrigeration unit of the refrigeration apparatus, the power supply system comprising a controller;
• 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.