IIT Delhi engineer develops fridge that runs without truck engine, cuts cooling costs by 75%

A post shared by a man on X has drawn attention to an IIT Delhi alumna and her team, who developed a refrigeration system designed to keep perishable goods cold without depending on a truck's engine. The technology is aimed at reducing diesel consumption and refrigeration costs in India's cold-chain sector, where inadequate storage and transport infrastructure can cause substantial food wastage.

The post highlighted the work of Shaivee Malik, a 25-year-old biotechnology graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, who co-founded Yotuh Energy with former teammates Vivek Mahindrakar and Dharmik Bapodara.



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How the IIT Delhi team developed the technology

According to the post, Malik became interested in engineering solutions while participating in IIT Delhi's Formula Racing team, Axlr8r, where she served as associate team captain. Her experience there, along with that of Mahindrakar and Bapodara, helped the trio develop practical engineering skills.

The three later decided to work on climate-related challenges and focused on India's cold chain after identifying it as an area where significant losses occur but receives comparatively less attention.

They founded Yotuh Energy in 2022, registering the company in Delhi before moving to Chennai for an incubation programme at IIT Madras. The company's name is derived from Sanskrit and refers to the act of cleaning.

Refrigeration unit runs independently from truck engine

The company's main product is a refrigeration system powered by its own lithium-ion battery rather than the truck's engine.

According to the post, this allows the refrigeration unit to continue operating when the truck engine is switched off, preventing diesel consumption during idling. The system can also keep cooling goods if the vehicle breaks down.

Sensors fitted to the doors detect when they are opened and adjust the cooling accordingly. Since the refrigeration system operates independently, it can be installed on conventional diesel trucks as well as electric vehicles.

The system can operate for around six to eight hours on a single charge.

Company claims 75% lower refrigeration costs

The technology is claimed to reduce refrigeration running expenses by around 75%.

According to the information shared in the X post, each unit can prevent between three and 36 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, depending on how it is used.

The system is designed to address a specific problem with conventional refrigerated transport, in which cooling equipment often remains connected to the vehicle's engine and continues consuming diesel while the truck is stationary.

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Sartup received family support, grants and funding at its inception

The company initially relied on financial support from Malik's family, according to the post. It later received government assistance, including a grant of Rs 30,000 per month for one year under one scheme, followed by a larger grant that helped fund its early prototypes.

Yotuh Energy subsequently raised around Rs 1.53 crore through a funding round and received grants from the agriculture ministry, the science and technology department and other institutions.

The company has since attracted paying customers, including distributors associated with Amul ice cream and McCain frozen foods.

Malik has described Yotuh Energy as a cooling solutions company, rather than simply a trucking business. According to her, trucks were its starting point because conventional refrigeration systems connected to diesel engines are an inefficient way of maintaining low temperatures during transport.

Disclaimer: This content is based on AI-generated content. ET.com has not independently verified the information. It is provided for informational purposes only.