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Experts in commercial vehicles and autonomous HGVs have secured funding to explore their viability in the UK.
Consortium eFREIGHT Autonomous, which is focused on electric lorry technology, will study the role of autonomous electric trucks from the perspective of fleet operations, evaluate the current technology and examine the infrastructure and legislative frameworks required to enable their use on roads in this country.
Led by EV charging specialists, Voltempo Group, the group includes Berkeley Coachworks, designer of the Berkeley Bulldog e-trailer, and data and research partner Connected Places Catapult.
The consortium’s chair is Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary-of-State for Business, Innovation and Skills who gave the green light to the UK’s first tests of driverless technology in 2014.
He said: “Autonomous technology offers a chance to unlock innovation across transport, strengthen the UK supply chain and rethink logistics that are cleaner, greener and better for local communities and better for business.”
Michael Boxwell, chief executive of Voltempo, said: “Autonomous vehicles are already in everyday use in parts of China and the US and trials here in the UK, such as self-driving shuttles in Birmingham and autonomous buses in Scotland, are paving the way for wider adoption by 2027 with the full implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act.
“For freight operators working on tight margins, this is a chance to understand this transformational technology, help shape its future rollout and explore the real cost-saving opportunities it can deliver for the UK supply chain through improved efficiencies.”
At the end of the project, eFREIGHT Autonomous will produce reports and briefing documents for the government and industry that outline the roadmap for autonomous heavy road freight vehicles.
Work on the eFREIGHT Autonomous feasibility study project has begun, with results delivered early 2027.
Following the publication of its reports, the consortium plans to examine the opportunity to create real-world trials with autonomous HGVs running on UK roads, with the potential to have the technology operational by the end of 2027.
