GoMetro has received government funding for a six-month trial of its EV software with major UK transport firms.
- The trial aims to customise EV transition plans for Maritime and Welch’s Transport using GoMetro’s innovative software.
- Key metrics, such as mileage and depot idle times, will be analysed via GoMetro’s Bridge platform.
- Data collected will inform optimal routes, vehicles, and charging infrastructure for electric fleets.
- The initiative is part of a larger, government-backed effort to decarbonise UK road freight.
GoMetro, a leading B2B software-as-a-service fleet management company, has been awarded a grant from the Freight Innovation Fund to support a six-month trial of its electric vehicle software with prominent UK logistics firms Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport. This initiative is set to explore the utilisation of GoMetro’s EV-FIT solution alongside its Bridge fleet management software platform to examine fleet movement data at a designated depot, thereby identifying essential vehicle and infrastructure specification needs.
The EV-FIT solution, which focuses on electric vehicle feasibility and planning, is powered by GoMetro’s Bridge telematics aggregation platform. Christopher de Saxe, the project lead for EV-FIT, emphasised the importance of a customised electric vehicle transition plan that caters to the unique operational characteristics of each fleet. Crucially, he noted, telematics data offers vital insights into operational metrics like daily mileage and idle time at depots, facilitating identification of requisite vehicle and charging infrastructure specifications, including battery capacities and the number, power, and location of chargers.
A distinct feature of GoMetro’s approach is the integration of data through its Bridge platform, which aggregates telematics data from various telemetry providers directly via API, encompassing those from subcontracted fleets. In partnership with Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport, GoMetro will utilise this platform to gather and assess fleet movement data, complemented by vital contextual non-telematics information. Subsequent analysis will aim to pinpoint optimal routes, vehicles, and charging structures necessary for an effective electric vehicle pilot within the fleet. These insights are expected to expedite the EV transition journeys of GoMetro’s trial partners while also refining the EV-FIT offering to better cater to the needs of UK fleets.
Justin Coetzee, Group CEO and founder of GoMetro, described the grant as a significant endorsement for GoMetro within the UK freight market, recognising it as an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy of their software platform in assisting fleet owners to achieve enhanced operational outcomes.
Concurrent with this grant, both Maritime and Welch’s Transport serve as components of the Zero Emission Heavy Goods Vehicles and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID), which supports the freight sector’s progression towards net-zero emissions. This Innovate UK and DfT-backed initiative is among the most substantial funded efforts, involving the deployment of up to 370 zero-emission heavy goods vehicles along with the establishment of approximately 57 refuelling and electric charging sites. Real-world trials of advanced battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies in HGVs will provide essential data over the ensuing years, aiding the government in making informed long-term infrastructure decisions aimed at enhancing the sustainability of road freight and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
These developments highlight a pivotal step in the UK’s journey towards a sustainable freight industry.
