Miralis opens Glasgow office

Lancaster-based Miralis Data has opened an office in Glasgow to allow it to play a key role in bolstering the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure of Scotland.

The transport-focused software and data science company has also securing funding from Transport Scotland's Can Do Innovation Low Carbon Challenge to boost decarbonisation of transport in north of the border.

Miralis will do this by moving forward on projects to tackle EV bay hogging and ICEing while improving charge point accessibility.

Bay hogging refers to vehicles remaining at EV charge points without or beyond their charging session, whilst ICEing sees non EVs taking EV charge point parking bays. The result of the project will enable charge point operators to be alerted to instances of bay hogging and ICEing, with the option to flag to local parking enforcement.

Alleviating problems with bay hogging and ICEing will ensure better accessibility for EV drivers, opening up the infrastructure and confidence needed to encourage more EV adopters across the country.

Will Maden, research director at Miralis, said: "Scotland has an amazing EV infrastructure network across the whole country including both urban and rural settings. Behaviours like ICEing and bay hogging are a common problem limiting accessibility to the charging infrastructure; meaning we either need to invest in even more infrastructure, or solve the problem with smarter systems.

"Scotland acts as an excellent testbed for a smarter solution – once we solve the problem on an established network, we will have created a blueprint that can be used across the globe.”

The project is supported by Glasgow City Council, East Lothian and Scottish Leather Group, offering use cases for both public and private sectors.

Graeme Dey, minister for transport, said: "Scotland is well placed to seize economic benefits from the transition to a net zero economy and it is therefore pleasing to see Miralis expand into Scotland to support the challenge of decarbonising transport.

"I’m looking forward to seeing smarter systems and innovative approaches to support the growth in availability of electric vehicles being tested here in Scotland, as it will provide us with the tools we need to deliver more accessible charging infrastructure.

“This partnership will help us to meet our commitment to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, as well as supporting our world leading target of net zero by 2045.”