Einride, which is developing autonomous freight trucks, announced yesterday that it is expanding its operations into the U.K. This week's launch follows Einride’s 2022 expansion into Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway.
Einride will establish a regional freight mobility grid along the M1, M5, and M6 between the major metropolitan cities of London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. The starting point will be the Midlands’ ‘golden logistics triangle,’ which lies within four hours’ drive of 90% of the British population and contains a significant share of the country’s logistics and warehousing facilities.
“The U.K. has always been at the forefront of transport history. The efficient and innovative movement of goods has consistently been integral to the growth and prosperity of the U.K., with the British pioneering both the railway system and canal networks,” said Robert Falck, Founder and CEO of Einride. “We’re honoured to be here, teaming up with local partners to further establish the UK as a transport pioneer and ultimately help the country meet its net zero goals.”
Founded in 2016, Einride said it designs, develops and deploys technologies for freight mobility. The company has developed an electric and autonomous fleet network that is operated using its Enride Saga platform.
PepsiCo is Einride's first U.K. commercial partner
Einride’s first commercial partner in the UK, PepsiCo, will have an initial deployment using Einride connected electric trucks between its Walkers manufacturing sites in Leicester and Coventry.
Over the three-year partnership, the truck fleet, powered by Einride’s intelligent Saga platform, will cover more than 750,000 miles previously powered by fossil-fuels, reducing the equivalent of over 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
“At PepsiCo, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our business, with a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040 as part of our PepsiCo Positive agenda,” said Archana Jagannathan, head of sustainability at PepsiCo UK. “Our partnership with Einride is a small yet important step towards that ambition, one that will help us drive meaningful progress in sustainable transport.
“With this initial deployment, we’re looking forward to better understanding the potential role electric trucks can play in our transport operations,” Jagannathan added.
As in other markets, Einride’s UK freight ecosystem will operate on a grid that is planned, optimized and monitored through the Einride Saga platform. The grid concept simplifies freight management over long distances and removes inefficiencies that are otherwise typical for the industry, with smart handovers meaning goods don’t have to be delayed due to battery recharges or a change in driver, according to the company.
Just the start
Einride plans to establish a vast network of partners as it expands further into the UK and Ireland, connecting additional shippers and operators which will enable cost-efficient scaling of the grid together with increased emission savings.
Once a critical mass of transportation volumes is established, the expansion of the grid will be further supported by algorithmic optimisation provided by Einride Saga and by introducing human-led autonomous technologies such as Einride’s heavy duty, cabless trucks which are monitored by a remote operator.
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