As a member of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (CSRF), the University of Westminster is contributing to a new initiative helping operators decarbonise their fleet by trialling electric Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) across the UK.
The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight are working with a variety of companies on their new initiative, Project JOLT, including John Lewis Partnership, Volvo Trucks UK and Flexible Power Systems Project, to pool data and analyse how the electric HGVs get on in retail, delivery and manufacturing operations.
The data will then be analysed by specialists who will investigate vehicle and charger performance, operational efficiency and costs. Through this evaluation, they will gage a greater understanding of the practicality of the change and what needs to be done to support businesses across the logistics industry transition to using these greener vehicles.
The CRSF was established in 2012 to help industry and government minimise carbon emissions from the road freight sector. It aims to research engineering and organisational solutions to make road freight economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The CRSF previously won the 2022 IEEE TSSS Presidential Prize for Sustainability in Transportation.
The CRSF is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Heriot-Watt University and the University of Westminster, and works closely with leading road hauliers and companies as well as industry and government groups.
Dr Maja Piecyk, Professor Emeritus at the University of Westminster and member of the CSRF’s Executive Team, said: “Over the last decade, the Centre has been highly successful in carrying out pioneering research on ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from supply chains. Participation in the project and guidance delivered by the Centre’s staff has saved the participating companies a significant amount of cost and carbon emissions. Our recommendations help shaping national and international decarbonisation policies, leading to a better environment for everyone.”
This initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Transport and Logistics courses at the University of Westminster.
