Firms including global package delivery company UPS and Gnewt Cargo have won a share of £20m Government funding to reduce fleet emissions.
In total, 20 firms have been awarded a share of funds under the Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial for initiatives that demonstrate new ULEV technologies and drive their uptake.
The UPS project will be carried out in central London and will design, tender and implement a smart charging system that, together with an energy storage system, enabling UPS to exceed the current maximum number of vehicles to be charged in a depot.
Meanwhile Gnewt Cargo in Southwark, London, is being granted £1.1m to lease 33 electric vehicles to perform last-mile logistics.
And Kuehne + Nagel has been awarded £1.1m for clients Whitbread, which will operate four fully electric, two range-extended electric and two liquid nitrogen-cooled refrigeration vehicles on temperature-controlled transport routes.
Other winning projects include from Tevva Motors, which receives £1.1m towards proving new battery range-extending technology and develop a universal battery cassette.
Innovate UK’s manufacturing and materials director Simon Edmonds said: “These 20 projects around the UK will spearhead the uptake of the next generation of innovative low emission freight and fleet vehicles.
“The impact will benefit the environment, particularly in our big cities.
“It builds on the results of previous low carbon projects with OLEV, and the data collected from this new trial will be invaluable to future development and commercialisation of these vital technologies.”
