Freight Innovation Fund third round winning projects
Updated 10 October 2024
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The third round of Freight Innovation Fund winning projects was announced in October 2024. The following 10 bids were awarded funding.
Botanic Energy
Trial partner: Salisbury and Cambridge Refrigeration Technology
Botanic Energy’s efficient core heat transfer ‘Matrix’ offers low emissions transport chilling and refrigeration without damaging refrigerants, targeted at temperature-controlled intermodal transport and cold chain logistics.
The technology trials with Cambridge Refrigeration Technology (UK Refrigerated Vehicle Test Centre) and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets will provide performance metrics and independent validation.
Ecomar Propulsion Ltd
Trial partner: Forth Ports
Ecomar will use the trial to determine the capability and range of a commercial vessel using battery and hydrogen with a new electrical powertrain.
The trial aims to prove the possibility of achieving ‘below deck’ mounting of hydrogen systems and the ease of fuelling and charging with this combined approach. Ecomar will be working with Forth Ports and the Port of Exeter through the trial.
Gaussion
Trial partner: automotive company
MagLiB technology has been developed to enable affordable ultra-rapid charging of Li-ion batteries and, during this trial, the technology is scaled to serve a variety of EV applications.
GoMetro
Trial partner: maritime transport
EV-FIT is GoMetro’s data-driven EV feasibility planning solution for fleet owners driven by a telematics aggregation platform, Bridge.
With trial partner Maritime Logistics they will be collecting and analyzing fleet movement data for a chosen depot, from which they will identify critical vehicle and infrastructure specification needs.
GPC Systems Ltd
Trial partner: Pall-Ex UK and Welch’s Group
GPC’s Forklift Measure is designed for logistics companies moving cargo using forklifts looking to use dimensions for journey efficiency and revenue generation.
The trial will validate fast, accurate dimension capture of freight, using low cost, plug and play hardware. The trial will collaborate with Pall-ex UK and The Welch Group.
Innervated Vehicle Engineering
Trial partner: Asda Stores Limited
Innervated Vehicle Engineering’s solution is a fuel cell powertrain retrofitted to an exiting vehicle using a public hydrogen station for refuelling. It is designed for home delivery fleet operators aiming to achieve a zero emissions vehicle fleet without impacting operational capability or efficiency.
The trial will focus on home delivery logistics in Sheffield, collaborating with Asda.
RailX
Trial partner: DP World UK
RailX’s trial, will research and review the data available, develop and introduce tools, systems and processes, integrate vessel information using AI tools creating predictive ETAs at sea-ports, integrating and visualising the end-to-end journey of the clients goods.
RAD Propulsion Ltd
Trial partner: Williams Shipping Marine Ltd
RAD Propulsion’s solution is designed to demonstrate a clean, electric, automated waterway micro freight logistics transport system. It is aimed at logistics companies, city authorities and those involved in waterway freight management.
RAD Propulsion will work with commercial trial partner, Williams Shipping Ltd, to demonstrate and prove the practicality and feasibility of the concept in a commercial environment.
TUAL
Trial partner: Wincanton
TUAL will be working with Wincanton to address hard-to-charge missions using high-performance powerbanks.
Designed to radically improve productivity and up-time, powerbanks will be deployed both as a range-extender for Wincanton’s pioneering eHGV fleet and as a battery-buffered charger to overcome depot grid constraints.
XeroE Sustainability Logistics Ltd
Trial partner: DHL
In collaboration with DHL, XeroE Sustainability Logistics are piloting the use of containerised cargo bikes alongside virtual micro hubs. The goal of this initiative is to demonstrate the economic viability of the system, significantly increase the proportion of deliveries made by cargo bikes, and accurately measure the emissions reductions achieved.