🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
Chancellor commissions study on automated vehicles
In the Autum Statement in 2023, the Chancellor announced that he would be commissioning the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to provide recommendations on infrastructure policy interventions and ensure that self-driving and connected technologies can deliver economic growth across the UK.
The Terms of Reference for the study have now been published.
The NIC has been asked to consider how the government should plan, operate and maintain the country’s road network and related digital infrastructure to ensure that any opportunities and future challenges from this emerging technology are accounted for in strategic transport plans.
“Technologies are being developed, and regulations being developed around them, and it is important that logistics is part of that,” said Denise Beedell, Senior Policy Manager at Logistics UK.
“This is particularly relevant to connected and autonomous vehicles.
“Logistics, as a more controlled environment than passenger transport, could also act as an important test bed for certain transport innovations.”
The UK government stated in August 2022 that, by 2025, self-driving car deployments will start to occur across the country, enhancing the flow of people and goods and establishing a market for the technology early on.
By implementing the policies outlined in the Automated Vehicles Bill, the government hopes to guarantee that a thorough regulatory, legal and safety framework will support this industry.
Published On: 07/03/2024 16:00:00
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In brief
FedEx Express Spain welcomes first electric vehicles 
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The 3.5t fully electric vehicles have been allocated to FedEx Express stations in Madrid and Barcelona.
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A total of 33 charging points will be in place across both sites, where the energy supply is certified as being from renewable energy, and a dynamic power management solution ensures the full fleet of electric vehicles can adequately charge onsite overnight.
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“We are all about making things efficient for our customers, and the installation of InPost lockers will make shopping at Aldi even more convenient,” said Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK.
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