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Tag: lorries

Hydrogen for HGV Heavies

Posted on by David Priestman

Heavy Goods Vehicles are well-suited to the use of hydrogen for carbon-free transport fleets and good progress is being made. Richard Shepherd-Barron reports for Logistics Business.

In recent years the emphasis on clean power has been very much concentrated on electric vehicles – especially in the light van and medium vehicle sectors. However, there are drawbacks, such as the reduction in load capacity with an increase in the unladen weight from the batteries and the reduction in operating mileage with the need to recharge. Truck makers across the world have been working on the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and with a particular emphasis on larger trucks although it has been interesting to see that four makers of light commercial vehicles introduced new hydrogen-powered models at the recent IAA Transportation show in Hannover. This has provided a clear indication of the appeal of this technology.

All this activity has not gone unnoticed in EU circles and an additional €1.2 billion fund has just been announced by the European Commission to support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). At the same time, MAN Energy Solutions subsidiary company, electrolysis specialist Quest One, has opened a new ‘giga hub’ for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg. At full capacity this new factory is expected to produce stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year. The UK is not lagging behind, with the Government announcing in October an £88 million finding boost for zero emission tech firms.

There are two ways to produce hydrogen. Firstly, by cracking fossil fuels – this is called ‘grey’ hydrogen because CO2 is always released when fossil fuels are processed. A second, and much cleaner way to create hydrogen is through electrolysis – when electricity generated from renewable sources is passed through water to create oxygen and hydrogen for a 100% carbon-free product. Used in vehicle engines, this produces only water as its emission.

There are two types of hydrogen-powered vehicle – one using hydrogen fuel-cells to generate electricity to drive electric propulsion and the other where hydrogen replaces diesel fuel in a conventional engine. Both systems require tanks for the hydrogen. The fuel-cell units are, of course, totally silent but the combustion engines have an advantage in hot climates and where power is needed over long periods.

Alternative Zero Emissions

MAN have won the Truck Innovation Award 2025 for their hTGX hydrogen combustion truck (pictured) offering an alternative zero-emission solution. Delivery of the first 200 units starts next year to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries providing an alternative zero-emission solution. Using the proven H45 engine, it is available in 6×2 and 6×4 axle configurations, enabling a high payload and with maximum ranges of up to 600 kms.

Volvo are also working on hydrogen fuelled trucks, but Toyota have gone further by carrying out trials in Belgium with a new hydrogen fuel-cell powered delivery truck for Coca Cola. This trial is in conjunction with the i gases company, Air Liquide. This collaboration is designed to highlight the potential development of both vehicles and infrastructure to provide operators with zero-emission vehicles. Toyota are also testing this system in trucks used by their logistics providers on their daily routes in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Mercedes-Benz have their GenH2 truck which has a range of more than 1,000 km, carrying the same payload as a conventional diesel vehicle.

In the UK, Hydrogen Vehicle systems (HVS) has signed a deal to deliver 30 of its hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor units to Worksop-based Explore Plant and Transport Solutions. The trucks will be supported by a service and maintenance plan, full training on the safe use of hydrogen and refuelling, along with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that fully meets Explore’s operational needs. Vauxhall is beginning customer trials of hydrogen fuel cell vans, based on their current Vivaro Electric range.

Providing an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, particularly at the heavy end of operations, the future looks strong for hydrogen power.

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Freight Crimes Could Drain £6.1 Billion from the Industry by 2049!

Posted on by David Priestman

In the UK, an alarming £250 million is estimated to be lost annually to freight crimes, totaling a predicted £6.1 billion by 2049, research by SNAP, the haulage industry’s digital marketplace, has revealed. With inflation rising this figure could even reach a staggering £7.9 billion. Across Europe €8.2 billion is lost to cargo theft, every year.

How Criminals Are Attacking the Logistics Industry

Criminals are using increasingly bold and sophisticated methods to exploit weaknesses in the logistics industry. Here are some specific examples of how they’re targeting businesses:

  1. Truck Hijacking: Thieves are intercepting trucks on highways or at rest stops. They use fake police checkpoints or forceful takeovers to seize high-value goods, such as electronics or pharmaceuticals, costing companies millions in losses.
  2. Warehouse Infiltration: Organized gangs are breaking into warehouses during low-security times, such as shift changes or holidays. They exploit gaps in surveillance and security to steal large quantities of goods.
  3. Cyber Manipulation: Hackers are targeting logistics companies by altering delivery routes, rerouting shipments, or stealing sensitive information from poorly protected systems. These attacks disrupt supply chains and can lead to major financial damage.
  4. Insider Fraud: Employees with inside knowledge are leaking shipping schedules or tampering with deliveries. Some insiders collaborate with external crime rings, allowing them to intercept goods more easily.
  5. Fake Orders and Fraudulent Pickups: Criminals place fake orders or use forged documents to claim shipments. By impersonating legitimate customers or delivery agents, they reroute products before they reach their intended destinations.

With the haulage industry making technological advancements in other areas, like autonomous trucks and EV vehicles, decision-makers are questioning why the industry does not leverage available technology and incorporate the latest security features to help fight freight crimes.

Based on the newest crime-fighting innovation from across the world, it is anticipated that by 2049:

  • Truck parks will have 24/7 security, including the use of robot policing, such as dogs and patrols that provide autonomous surveillance, allowing all areas of truck parks to be monitored, without a human needing to be present.
  • Secure entrances and exits will be introduced, which will only be accessed by pre-booked trucks, and monitored via license plate recognition.
  • AI criminal pattern predictions, to anticipate crime.
  • Facial recognition.
  • Thermal cameras, to detect any unusual activity.

Other predictions include using information from tachographs to monitor truck drivers, helping to predict when drivers will need to reach truck stops, and keeping drivers rest safely away from roadsides.

Matthew Bellamy, managing director at SNAP said “There is an urgent need for investments in the safety and security of truck parks across the UK and Europe, truck drivers are the lifeblood of our economies and ensure that the public gets what they need. We need to encourage more people into the industry by offering a safe and secure environment for all. This highlights the need to protect drivers’ wellbeing, keeping them physically and mentally safe, alongside the financial benefits for supply chain operators and improved services for the nation”

Recent investments include €750 million from the IRU advocacy and £16 million from the UK government to transform truck parks. £16 million is just 6.4% of the £250 million and under 0.3% of the predicted £6.1 billion lost due to freight crimes in the UK, alone. Whilst we are pleased to see investments across Europe, it will be important to start seeing changes in action.

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App May Prevent Supply Chain Delays from EU Biometric System

Posted on by David Priestman
As the EU prepares to implement its new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) on November 10, 2024, logistics experts are voicing concerns about potential delays at border crossings. The EES, which will require all non-EU citizens to register their biometric data, could significantly impact the movement of goods, especially for UK haulage operations.

The Need for a Pre-Registration Solution

To mitigate these potential delays, industry leaders are advocating for the development of a mobile app or web-based platform that would allow travelers, including freight drivers, to pre-register their biometric data before reaching the border. Such a tool could streamline border processing, reducing congestion and ensuring that goods continue to move efficiently through the supply chain.

Potential Features of the Proposed App

The proposed app would likely enable users to securely upload their biometric information, receive confirmation of successful registration, and access real-time updates on border wait times. This pre-registration system could be crucial in avoiding the significant delays anticipated with the manual collection of biometric data at border points.

Urgency from the Logistics Sector

With the EES deadline approaching, logistics stakeholders are urging EU authorities to prioritize the development of this app. The industry, already grappling with ongoing supply chain challenges, fears that without such a solution, the new biometric requirements could exacerbate delays, particularly during the high-demand holiday season.

As November draws near, the logistics sector is closely watching for the adoption of innovative solutions like the proposed app to ensure the smooth flow of goods across UK-EU borders. The success of this initiative could be key to preventing widespread disruptions in supply chain operations caused by the new biometric entry system.

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Tiger Trailers Provide New Vans for Warburtons Fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

One of Britain’s leading bakery brands, Warburtons, has selected Tiger Trailers to supply 38 rigid box vans to its nationwide fleet of trucks, that transport fresh bread to around 18,500 locations daily, around the nation.

When Warburtons approached Tiger in the winter of 2022, they needed the vehicles to be built to match their specific operational requirements. Expected to become part of a busy retail delivery fleet, they needed a custom, clever, and ergonomic design with robustness and usability as key components.

With regular visits to Tiger’s factory and 3D-model review sessions during the initial design phase, Warburtons was impressed by Tiger Trailers’ thorough build quality, consistency, and attention to detail displayed in their vehicles, as well as an ultra-modern facility and assurance of on-time delivery.

Steve Gray, Head of Transport at Warburtons, comments: “It has been reassuring to have been involved throughout the design and manufacturing process. We have taken delivery of 10 of the vans already and are very impressed with the final product. We are looking forward to a further 28 due joining our fleet in spring this year.”

Transport Truck
Warburtons’ New Rigid Box Van

Building the Fleet

Built on 14-tonne DAF chassis from local firm Lancashire DAF, each rigid is fitted with Warburtons-specification racking along its sides, along with adjustable centre aisle load bars to suit the customer’s loading requirements. The rigids also boast crew doors on each side of the body’s rear, to expedite the loading process, access to which is covered with a hinged alloy floor section, maximising load capacity. The Dhollandia tail lift aids drivers with large loads, and the two Labcraft B3 Banksman reversing lights help in low-light conditions. They are finished in Warburtons’ trademark orange, painted in house at Tiger.

Tom Stott, Technical Sales Manager at Tiger Trailers, comments: “It’s been a pleasure to work closely with Steve and his team at Warburtons. At Tiger we are proud to offer competitive lead times, and guarantee a premium product without compromising on quality. To have done so for one of Britain’s most-recognisable brands is something to be celebrated, and we are hopeful to build on the relationship we have established with Steve and Warburtons in the future.”

Ten of Warburtons’ new Tiger rigids, delivered in late 2023, can already be seen out on the roads, operating out of several of Warburtons’ 22 nationwide depots.

Reduction in Non-fault Claims with AI

Posted on by David Priestman

International haulage firm Roelofs Transport has been working with Samsara, a pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud, to digitise its operations as it continues to grow. By implementing Samsara’s Dual-Facing AI-powered dash cams, Mobile Experience Management and Fleet Telematics, Roelofs Transport has real-time visibility into its operations and is managing its fleet more safely and efficiently.

Roelofs Transport has evolved over the past three decades from a family business into an international haulage firm boasting a fleet of over 50 Scania trucks, across multiple countries between Italy and the Netherlands. It faced challenges including ensuring drivers were adhering to legal time limits during extended shifts, and encountering incidents of vehicle and cargo damage, which resulted in substantial costs and an impact on the company’s reputation. As a result, Roelofs Transport required an advanced solution to track its expanding fleet, gain insights into driver behaviour, and effectively address issues in real-time.

With Samsara’s Vehicle Gateway, Roelofs has unlocked enhanced telematics functionality, optimising routes, elevating customer service, and curbing fuel wastage. This has helped Roelofs to reduce the number of processes it had in a typical delivery from 88 to just four – a reduction of 95%. With the company taking on around 400 deliveries per week, this has reduced workload significantly for employees and has improved customer service.

Additionally, Samsara’s Dual-facing AI-powered dash cams have allowed Roelofs to reduce unsafe driving, while shielding drivers in incidents caused by other road users. Beyond critical event recording, the cameras hold more value through AI-driven In-Cab Coaching, which offers immediate guidance to drivers based on incidents. Through improved employee coaching and streamlined video-based investigation, Roelofs Transport has seen a significant cut in non-fault claims by 60%, which has also lowered insurance policy premiums.

Dennis Hendriks, Operations Manager at Roelofs Transport, comments: “Our drivers can be away from base for extended periods of time, up to two weeks. With Samsara’s In-Cab Coaching, our drivers can review their coaching event on the same day, or at the next stop, which helps correct and improve driving behaviours, in real-time.”

Philip van der Wilt, SVP and GM EMEA at Samsara, said: “By harnessing vehicle data and 360-degree cameras and feeding them into Samsara’s cloud platform, we have transformed Roelofs Transports’ operations to help them to better manage their growing fleet, setting them up for the future. As we continue to roll out innovative features, visionary companies like Roelofs Transport stand to offer their customers even greater benefits”.

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud, which is a platform that enables organisations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves tens of thousands of customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

 

Haulier Buys New Tipper Trailers

Posted on by David Priestman

Farming and haulage company, Pearn Wyatt & Son, has taken delivery of two bulk tippers, continuing a close relationship with Fruehauf that spans more than five decades.

The Norwich, Norfolk, UK firm has added the new sloper Smoothsider tippers from Fruehauf’s Ready to Go stock. The 70 cubic yard capacity trailers join the fleet just a few months after the company purchased a second-hand tipper from the manufacturer.

Of the 14 bulk tippers operated by the business, all paired with Volvo tractor units, 12 are sourced from Fruehauf – including one put into service in 2004 which continues to meet its agricultural haulage needs.

Owner Jonny Wyatt, who runs the company with his mother Anne, says the business has relied heavily on the tipping trailer manufacturer for so many years because its products are, “exceptionally well-built, reliable and offer a high payload.”

“My father had Fruehauf tippers 50 years ago and we’ve always been happy with its trailers. They really stand the test of time,” he says. “In our business, we work them hard, so the fact we have several trailers on the fleet that are more than 15 years old is testament to their quality.”

In the summer months, the Fruehauf tippers will mainly transport corn, wheat and barley, as well as some aggregates, across the UK, whilst in the winter the focus shifts to moving sugar beet.
The sloper Smoothsiders are specified with remote-controlled electric easy sheets and tailboards, both of which can be operated by the driver from inside the cab.

Commenting on Fruehauf’s service, Wyatt adds: “The turnaround time was much better than expected, given the industry-wide supply shortage and long lead times. From order to delivery was just three months. We look forward to growing our relationship with Fruehauf for decades to come.”

Fruehauf’s sloper Smoothsider trailers are produced at its 73-acre site in Grantham, Lincolnshire, where the company offers specialist design, engineering, fabrication and livery application for a range of vehicles and components.

Adopting EV Fleets Presents Challenges

Posted on by David Priestman

EV is fast becoming a top priority for many businesses, fuelled by the significant benefits that can be realised through making the switch, writes Dee Humphries (pictured), Managing Director, Equans EV Solutions. With reduced carbon emissions, financial savings, increased sustainability credentials, improved productivity, enhanced employee experience – the benefits of transitioning to an electric fleet are undeniable.

Whilst there are clear benefits on paper, it’s important to acknowledge that transitioning a fleet to EV can come with challenges. In fact, many businesses are presented with multiple barriers when they begin to adopt EV that can sometimes halt the process. However, the solution isn’t to simply admit defeat, but rather to navigate and manage the challenges effectively to ensure the transition is seamless, enabling the gain of long-term benefits.

Here, Dee Humphries, Managing Director of Equans EV Solutions, highlights some of common challenges businesses are facing when it comes to adopting EV, with the strategy to overcome them – alongside a proven framework for EV adoption.

Challenges and solutions for businesses adopting EV

A common challenge fleet operators face in the early stages of their EV transition is a lack of internal buy-in. This can come in the form of resistance from those who do not understand the benefits of EV, as well as from those who see EV as an unnecessary business cost. This is typically prevalent in industries that have historically been dependant on conventional fuel options.

To overcome this barrier, it’s important to ensure these stakeholders are engaged from the offset and the programme is aligned to the business’ overall goals. Overcoming this barrier doesn’t need to be complex, but rather about education and demonstration. Consider sharing success stories of similar businesses via case studies, reports or testimonials. This can help bring the benefits of transitioning to life, building the case for EV adoption.

Another challenge is having the capital to invest in both the required vehicles and charging infrastructure. This can be particularly challenging if EVs weren’t accounted for in long-term budgeting. However, it’s important to think of EVs in terms of total cost of ownership, instead of initial investment costs. Whilst transitioning to EV might be expensive initially, the long-term savings through lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance costs and an extended vehicle lifespan make the investment more than worthwhile. There are also ample government initiatives and schemes that are available for both infrastructure and vehicle costs, plus leasing options available, to make EVs more economically viable.

As with most things, failing to properly plan and prepare is a challenge many businesses will face as this will result in an ineffective EV integration strategy. Transitioning to EV requires an in depth understanding of new technologies, assessing operational requirements and much more. However, often resources to develop this knowledge are limited – meaning hesitations can occur, halting the transition. The solution here is to bring in the experts. This means a specialised organisation who can develop a detailed and tailored EV transition strategy that is aligned with the goals and needs of your business. This will remove any uncertainty and ensure the transition is smooth and successful.

Why now is the time to transition your fleet to EV

Despite the challenges that transitioning to EV presents, the reality is that businesses who don’t start to make the transition will get left behind. The time to start the transition is now and thankfully, with the right strategy and approach, these challenges can be overcome – meaning there’s never been a better time to do so. EV adoption has become more convenient than ever for businesses across the UK. Recent electric commercial vehicle ownership stats highlight many have already implemented EV for their fleets, with vans up 67.3%, buses and coaches increasing by 34.9%, and the number of zero emission trucks almost trebling since last year.

Concerns that would usually be front of mind for businesses looking to adopt EV their fleet would be cost and range. Both of these are steadily becoming worries of the past. Take cost – battery prices have plummeted by 89% over the past decade, making EV models increasingly competitive against petrol and diesel vehicles. There are also multiple incentives for EV adoption and charging infrastructure from the government, offering a breadth of financial support to meet the needs of all businesses.

Range capabilities have expanded considerably meaning the average modern EV can now travel over 200 miles on a full charge. This has significantly reduced the concern of range anxiety for fleets and means EV is no longer a barrier for businesses that need to travel hundreds of miles on a daily basis. Infrastructure has also grown and improved, offering a solution to keep drivers on the move when required. It’s been noted that there are now 77,531 charging connectors in 29,709 locations across the UK. This is a 194% increase compared to 2019 – meaning charging convenience has substantially improved for drivers.

A Proven Framework for Electric Vehicle Adoption

To navigate this transformative shift in fleet management, Equans EV Solutions has released a whitepaper that addresses the common questions and obstacles faced by logistics fleet operations. Drawing on over a decade of industry expertise, the whitepaper adopts a barrier-to-solution approach, focusing on challenges such as how to gain internal buy-in for EV adoption, the considerations required for designing an appropriate charging solution, and how to pilot the necessary operational and organisational changes to make EV charging a triumph.

Backed by more than 10 years of industry expertise, this whitepaper delivers critical insights logistics operators need to transition to EVs confidently and effectively. The key features include:
• Completing a comprehensive financial analysis to realise the true total cost of ownership for an electric fleet.
• Creating a strategic EV integration plan that covers organisational adjustments, infrastructure development, fleet management and training needs.
• Adopting transparent communication and assigning ‘EV champions’ to illuminate the long-term benefits of EVs to internal stakeholders which align with environmental and operational gains.

With this strategic, yet adaptable, approach towards fleet management, Equans is not only solidifying the position of businesses that adopt EVs, but also shaping a promising and eco-responsible future for the global transportation industry.

52 Rigids and 3 Double Deck Trailers

Posted on by David Priestman

Johnsons Hotel Linen, one of the UK’s largest hotel laundry hire and service providers, has begun introducing to its fleet fifty-two rigids and three fixed double decks manufactured by Tiger Trailers, with an emphasis on durability to meet its demanding operations.

Following a visit to Cheshire-based Tiger Trailers’ purpose-built facility in 2022 by Leigh Anscombe, Johnsons’ National Transport Manager, the order for the trailers was placed initially, with the first delivered in October 2023, during which time the first twenty 18-tonne rigids were also manufactured.

Anscombe comments: “From our first introduction to Ignacio and Tiger Trailers we were impressed with the setup of the business and the attention we received as a potential customer. This has continued since placing numerous large orders through Tiger Trailers, with communication from Ignacio being fantastic and constantly keeping us aware of the situation and any changes. Issues that were encountered along the way and could have potentially arisen were communicated, headed off and dealt with before becoming a problem because of this.”

“The first batch of vehicles have been on our fleet for close to six months now during our busiest period and show no signs of wear and tear. This is what we would expect from a company such as Tiger and feel it is reflected in the overall finish and build quality of the product and service we have received”, he adds.

Due to the intense operation, strength was a primary requirement when identifying a supplier for the new fleet additions, and Johnsons’ Tiger-built rigids and trailers have been tailored with this in mind, each featuring Anchorfix steel plates impregnated within their GRP-faced sidewalls to provide enhanced protection for the load securing tracks, mitigating damage from frequent cage loading.
The initial twenty rigids are based on DAF LF 4×2 chassis and their specification includes a bespoke aerodynamic kit and a rear-sloping roofline for improved air flow, a full-closure Dhollandia 1,500kg cantilever tail-lift, and ventilators in the roof to combat damp laundry loads. Three different full-print liveries were applied across these vehicles, which have entered service throughout Johnsons’ nationwide fleet.

Tiger’s double deck solution comes in tri-axle box van step-frame guise, with these trailers providing support to the laundry specialist’s rigid fleet and regional hubs by transporting up to 74 cages during times of peak demand. The neck of the trailer offers additional storage space for loose laundry items, aided by an internal tail-lift. The fixed full-length upper deck is rated at 10,000kg and is constructed of steel overlaid with phenolic floor, with a steel durbar crash plate at the rear. The reversing spot lamps on each side have been fitted at a 45-degree offset behind the rear axle to elevate safety and visibility during low-speed manoeuvring around yards and hotel car parks. Completing the trailers’ specification is a gated Dhollandia 2500kg twin-tier column tail-lift.

Iggy Torres-Manzi, Tiger Trailers’ Technical Sales Manager, comments: “Tiger and myself are proud to have both brought on a new customer, and manufactured Johnsons’ latest fleet additions – it’s always exciting to develop two different products for a customer. The durability enhancements we have incorporated are sure to result in these new rigids and trailers becoming invaluable assets in their network, and they look fantastic in the company’s iconic blue, complemented by the different full-print wraps. It’s been a pleasure to work with Leigh, and we look forward to supporting the customer going forward, through the delivery of their future orders and beyond.”

Johnsons Hotel Linen’s additional thirty-two Tiger rigids will be introduced to the operator’s fleet in Spring 2024, comprised of sixteen DAF and sixteen Mercedes-Benz Trucks chassis. Tiger is also manufacturing a brace of 7.5-tonne rigids for the laundry specialist’s Northern Ireland operation.

 

Diesel Van Turns Electric at Press of Button

Posted on by David Priestman

An advanced retrofit solution which fits to existing diesel vans to make them both electric (first) and/or diesel at the touch of a button using innovative in-wheel motor (IWM) technology has been launched by BEDEO, an electric vehicle supplier and manufacturer based in Farnham, Hampshire, UK.

The new RE-100 Range Extender, part of its ‘Reborn Electric’ range, enables organisations with large fleets of vans, often with major conversions (e.g refrigeration units, bespoke fitouts, minibuses etc), to retain those vehicles for longer while still transitioning to an electric future. A vehicle fitted with a RE-100 Range Extender is electric first, with 117km of electric range, making it ideal for ‘Last Mile’ deliveries. Its existing diesel mode can be used when needed for longer trips, switching to electric when entering a low-emission zone and densely populated areas to eliminate emissions and accelerate decarbonisation.

At the heart of RE-100 are two in-wheel motors and a battery designed, engineered and manufactured by BEDEO. The in-wheel motors are fitted to the rear axle of the vehicle. The motors are more compact, lighter, efficient and easier to install than an equivalent e-axle and powered by a 37kWh battery. No suspension modifications are required to the front or rear, which means there is no loss of ground clearance and no loss of load space or height.

BEDEO came to national attention in 2019 manufacturing electric vans for significant players in the ‘Last Mile delivery’ market such as OCADO, DHL and TNT. Founder Osman Boyner says that with the concept of Reborn Electric he is providing a new business model for an industry caught between the twin goals of cost and sustainability. “The traditional model of fleet owners is to invest in new vans,” he explains. “But electric vans today don’t meet the needs of the market and even Euro VI diesel vans are still responsible for a disproportionate amount of carbon emissions. With the RE-100 we have created a new category of hybrid that not only meets the needs of the market but also accelerates transport decarbonisation.”

The RE-100 is a hybrid in as much as it can have two modes of power – electric and diesel – but with the BEDEO technology the vehicle cannot be operated as diesel within controlled low emissions zones, unless in an emergency. Outside of controlled zones the driver is in control and can determine when to stay in electric for a more pleasant driving experience, or switch to diesel for longer distances.

The ability to retrofit BEDEO’s IWM into an existing vehicle is an entirely new proposition: “BEDEO has leveraged this advanced IWM technology to develop the next generation of retrofit vehicles, unlimited by the constraints of a standard e-axle,” Boyner adds.

Commercial fleet operators face a number of significant challenges in the next few years, not least the uncertainty of a moving government deadline for an all-electric future which makes the RE-100 launch even more important. Osman believes that while switching to an all-electric fleet is desirable, it is also very expensive and wasteful, requiring investment not only in the vehicles themselves, but also the infrastructure to support them.

“While sustainability is, of course, a key driver, the end-to-end sustainability (whole lifecycle) of the vehicle also needs to be taken into account,” Boyner continues. “It cannot be sustainable to replace a vehicle that has not reached the end of its useful working life, neither is it sustainable to replace not only the vehicle, but also the refrigeration units or bespoke fit-out that many of these vehicles have. Retrofitting with electric overcomes these challenges and more, satisfying the need to reduce emissions in our city centres where the majority of the ‘Last Mile’ journeys are required, breathing new life into older vehicles.”

Today BEDEO can fit Reborn Electric solutions to a wide range of large commercial vans including the Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Jumper, the Fiat Ducato and Vauxhall Movano, with the intention to be a solution provider for all large vans. BEDEO has the capacity to convert hundreds of vehicles at any one time at its sites in Europe.

Reborn Electric is a range of retrofit solutions that includes the RE-100 range extended option and the BE-100, BE-250 and BE-350 full electric options.

Heavy-duty Autonomous Trucks with Autopilot

Posted on by David Priestman

Inceptio Technology, one of China’s leading developer of autonomous driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks, today announced new agreements with major logistics and insurance partners, shared key data points from over 50 million kms of accident-free autonomous driving, and showcased the core technologies that power the Inceptio Autonomous Driving System’s Truck Navigate-on-Autopilot (T-NOA) capability.

At the Company’s second annual Tech Day in Shanghai, Inceptio announced new procurement and strategic collaboration agreements with major logistics companies STO Express (SZSE:2468), ZTO Freight and Deppon Express. As part of these deals, STO Express has ordered 500 Inceptio autonomous trucks jointly developed with Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle (DFCV) and ZTO Freight has ordered 200 Inceptio autonomous trucks jointly developed with Sinotruk. Inceptio also announced a cooperation agreement with China Pacific Insurance Co., Ltd. (CPIC) that aims to develop innovative new insurance products tailored to autonomous heavy-duty trucks.

During the event, Inceptio presented the results of two new joint studies confirming the significant safety and driver experience benefits enjoyed by operators of autonomous trucks:

• Inceptio and CPIC jointly released the industry’s first annual insurance data safety report, which found that Inceptio’s trucks perform 75-99% better than human-operated trucks across a range of safety indicators. In particular, Inceptio trucks registered just 0.1 collision warnings per 100 kilometers, which is 98% fewer than human-operated trucks.

• Inceptio and a team of academics published a pioneering report monitoring truck driver fatigue levels on 134 trips covering nearly 120,000 kilometers of commercial operations. The study found that Inceptio’s human safety operators experienced 35% less physiological fatigue and 11% less psychological fatigue than conventional truck drivers.

These study results demonstrate that Inceptio autonomous trucks are delivering on the four key value propositions they offer heavy-truck operators: superior safety, reduced labour costs, improved driver experiences, and better fuel efficiency. From 50 million kms of commercial operations, Inceptio’s partners have realized labour cost savings of 20-50% and fuel savings of 2-10%. Inceptio autonomous trucks come equipped with the T-NOA feature, and receive regular over-the-air (OTA) updates as the Inceptio Autonomous Driving System improves itself. Inceptio’s T-NOA feature offers 100% coverage of China’s line haul network and Inceptio already has commercial business covering 70% of that network. Three core elements enable this technology:

• End-to-end network with safety guardrails: the traditional autonomous driving software stack with discrete perception, prediction, planning, and control modules is being replaced by an end-to-end network that is both smart and reliable. Keys to this novel network are 1) guardrails to ensure the reliability and safety of network output; and 2) an efficient occupancy grid map-based representation with significantly reduced computing power and memory consumption.

• Inceptio Super Driver: a vast trove of real-world driving data has been used to train a customized large-language model dubbed TruckGPT, allowing Inceptio’s virtual intelligent driver to surpass human drivers’ decision-making ability in a wide range of scenarios.

• Inceptio Autonomous Truck Platform: includes a next-gen autonomous driving control unit (ADCU) designed for heavy-duty trucks and suitable for long-distance use in harsh conditions with weak wireless signals; software with unique features that significantly enhance development efficiency and can be adapted to new vehicle models in just 9-12 months; and truck electrical and electronic architecture (EEA) with new features including full modularity with decoupling of software and hardware, facilitating efficient upgrades.

Inceptio founder and CEO Julian Ma (pictured) said: “After another year of hard work and momentous achievements, we couldn’t be more excited to share Inceptio’s progress with the world. We are truly proud of the great strides we have made to commercialize our technology, making nearly 50,000 trips on 340 routes for more than 100 freight and logistics customers.

The new orders we announced today represent a huge vote of confidence from our valued partners STO Express, ZTO Freight, and Deppon Express, which have all experienced the benefits of our technology first-hand. And through our new alliance with CPIC, we are developing insurance solutions that will help accelerate the mass adoption of autonomous trucks even further. We look forward to delivering more mass-produced L3 autonomous trucks to our partners in the near future as we continue striving to make freight transport greener, safer, and more reliable.”

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