Tomorrow’s transport, today – ITT Hub explores the future of logistics

More than 150 exhibitors packed out the huge exhibition hall, showcasing a breathtaking range of high-tech products and services, while a government hub was attended by several government departments and agencies, and the outside Ride & Drive experiences on offer proved a popular diversion with visitors.

Alongside the exhibition, Logistics UK ran a series of ten well-attended sessions on topics as varied as the trucks, vans and passenger vehicles of the future, to how to attract, develop and retain talent in the transport and logistics sector.

FIRST CONFERENCE SESSION CONSIDERS THE FUTURE OF TRUCKING

Delegates attending the first session of the Future Logistics Conference yesterday (30 June 2021), enjoyed a lively discussion on what fuels are likely to power the trucks of the future.

Chaired by Elizabeth de Jong, Logistics UK’s Director of Policy, each of the four speakers spoke in turn about their take on the trucks and fuels of the future before taking questions from the floor.

ANDY EASTLAKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ZEMO PARTNERSHIP

Reflecting on the title of the session – HGVs – Future Vehicles and Future Fuels – Andy Eastlake said that the question is not about future vehicles or future fuels, it’s about thinking about the vehicles and the energy together to find the technological solution that you need for your operation.

While conceding that the right solution for long-haul heavy duty vehicle is not clear, Eastlake said the main options on offer to the sector are battery electric vehicles, hydrogen, or electric road systems, where vehicles are powered by an overhead catenary.

Eastlake said that the first step to decarbonise your fleet is to use less fuel and energy by using Euro VI vehicles, hybrids and battery electric vehicles, which are now coming onto the market. But decarbonising the fuel that goes into vehicles currently available, he argued, is the quickest win that any operator can take to make a dramatic reduction to their carbon impact.

Carbon is no longer the only criteria, he said, because the technology already exists to get to zero carbon energy, but we do not yet have the right solution to minimise the amount of energy that we are using.

In conclusion, he said: “For me it’s going to be innovation, information and partnership that will bring us together to deliver future vehicles and future fuels.”

LORNA McATEAR, FLEET MANAGER, NATIONAL GRID

While a National Grid employee, Fleet Manager Lorna McAtear was speaking at the conference from the point of view of an operator.

“I have to make this work and I’m the one who has to look at the future and what’s coming down the line,” she said, “and what we can get in place to get us to the net zero targets.”

McAtear has adopted a bold target to get National Grid’s mixed vehicle fleet to net zero by 2030, which is particularly ambitious given that the fleet consists of cars, 4x4s, HGVs, as well as a few helicopters.

One of the mantras of the National Grid fleet has always been about getting the right vehicle for the right job. Now, McAtear said, it also looks at whether it’s the right fuel type and it’s the right time.

“It’s having the confidence to know that there are manufacturers out there that are building and providing us with new solutions,” she said, “It’s knowing when that time is right for that technology as well.”

She advised fleet professionals to put processes in place, even when it appears that there are currently no clear solutions, and urged them to understand the lifecycles of the vehicles they manage.

“It’s being bold enough to take some of those steps forward,” she said, “Get yourselves on those stepping stones and make some of those changes.”

CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RENAULT TRUCKS

Managing Director of Renault Trucks, Carlos Rodriguez said it was time for vehicle manufacturers, their customers and energy providers to work together. Renault Trucks’ role has evolved, he said, from a being a maker of vehicles to that of an energy transition partner.

On alternative fuels he said that while there was no silver bullet, Renault Trucks was convinced that battery electric was the best solution to decarbonise road freight, as it was 85% efficient from well to wheel.

“This is by far the best solution,” he said, “but today it will not suit all applications.”

However, he said that battery electric vehicles were already suitable for urban distribution and the waste and recycling sector.

“These vehicles are ready today,” he said, “There’s no need to wait. Let’s make this transition now.”

PROFESSOR DAVID CEBON, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINBLE ROAD FREIGHT

The road freight sector was in a very complex and challenging situation at the moment, Professor Cebon said. The logistics, energy, technology and consumer environments were rapidly changing.

“How do we make decisions in this changing environment?” he asked. “I think energy is the fundamental currency which we should be thinking about here.”

As low energy means lower costs, he argued that it makes sound economic sense for operators. Focusing on energy efficiency, Cebon assumed that if you started off with 100 kWh of green electricity, a battery electric vehicle would lose about 30% energy, a hydrogen-powered vehicle would lose about 77% energy and a grid transmission would lose about 23% energy.

On the grid transmission alternative, Cebon said: “This gives you the most efficient electric vehicle that you can run. There is no more efficient way of running any electric vehicle.”

The technology to deliver the grid transmission is known as the e-highway, where electricity is transported via wires or overhead catenaries, rather than in batteries.

“Have a careful look at electric road systems ,” Cebon urged delegates, “They’re much more practical and ready to go than you think and we’re working hard to show that.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/events/itt-hub

Published On: 01/07/2021 16:00:39

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