Electric and autonomous freight mobility company Einride has expanded its operations into the UK, to aid in reducing domestic carbon emissions created by 1.4bn tons of goods being transported around the country each year.
Utilizing systems such as the Einride Saga intelligent platform, electric and autonomous fleets, charging infrastructure and connectivity networks, the smart technology company aims to provide the UK with a new and sustainable end-to-end road freight solution.
Einride seeks to establish a regional freight mobility grid along the M1, M5 and M6 between London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. The starting point will be the Midlands’ ‘golden logistics triangle’, so-called due to its strategic location within four hours of 90% of the UK population. A significant amount of the country’s logistics and warehousing facilities are also located here.
“The UK has always been at the forefront of transport history,” said Robert Falck, founder and CEO of Einride. “The efficient and innovative movement of goods has consistently been integral to the growth and prosperity of the UK, with the British pioneering both the railway system and canal networks. We’re honored to be here, teaming up with local partners to further establish the UK as a transport pioneer and help the country meet its net zero goals.”
The first commercial partnership for Einride within the UK will be PepsiCo. Over a three-year period, the company will deploy Einride’s connected electric trucks – powered by Einride’s intelligent Saga platform – between its Walkers manufacturing sites in Leicester and Coventry.
“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, PepsiCo UK & Ireland. “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.”
Einride plans to partner with additional companies as it expands into the UK and Ireland. Once a critical mass of transportation volumes has been established, the expansion of the grid will be further supported by algorithmic optimization provided by Einride Saga. The company also plans to introduce human-led autonomous technologies including Einride’s heavy-duty, cab-free trucks which are monitored by a remote operator.
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