NOVELTY - The system (20) has an onboard power supply system (24) including a fossil-fueled diesel engine (26) and a thermoelectric generator (30) operatively placed in exhaust gas flow from the engine. The generator converts heat from the engine exhaust gas flow into electric current. A refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger (34) and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger (38) are arranged in a refrigerant flow circuit according to a refrigeration cycle. A storage battery system (28) is in electrical communication with the generator for receiving the current from the generator.    USE - Mechanical/semi-mechanical driven electric transport refrigeration system for controlling temperature within a perishable cargo box of trucks, intermodal container and trailers for transporting a product. Uses include but are not limited to meat product, poultry product, fish product, dairy product, cut flowers product and fresh or frozen perishable products.    ADVANTAGE - The thermoelectric generator replaces a belt driven alternator with respect to mechanical or semi-mechanical transport refrigeration systems, and provides supplemental electric current, which can be used to reduce maximum electric current output required from the engine-driven generator, thus reducing shaft horsepower requirement of the engine, and hence improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption of the system. The system allows generated electric current to be supplied to the storage battery system, thus eliminating the need for the alternator associated with the system.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger is a condenser/gas cooler. The refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger is an evaporator. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for augmenting power generation of a power supply system of a transport refrigeration system for controlling temperature within a cargo box.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic block diagram of a mechanically driven transport refrigeration system equipped with a power supply system having a thermoelectric generator.    Mechanical/semi-mechanical driven electric transport refrigeration system (20)    Onboard power supply system (24)    Fossil-fueled diesel engine (26)    Storage battery system (28)    Thermoelectric generator (30)    Refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger (34)    Refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger (38)