Miralis to develop on-the-move charging for HGVs

Lancaster-based Miralis Data has secured significant funds for a project exploring the viability of on-the-move charging for electric-powered HGVs.

The UK government has planned to ban the sale of fossil fuel HGVs by 2040. However, to date there has been zero transitioning in the logistics industry due to a lack of suitable vehicle and charging options.

The most significant challenge is that a large capacity battery would be required to cover the distances, but adding a heavier battery would diminish the vehicle’s efficiency. So larger vehicles will need a way to recharge their batteries on the go.

Miralise, the software and data science company which focuses on transport and electric vehicles, aims to solve this need by joining forces with a consortium on the £1.1m Electro Road project.

The project will run for nine months and will be undertaken in partnership with Honda R&D Europe (UK), Honda Japan, TRL and Galliford Try. Funding has been provided by the Department of Transport and it is managed by Innovate UK.

Dr Will Maden, research director at Miralis, said: "This really could be a game changing project in the race to decarbonise transport in the UK. Logistics firms know they need to be planning for their EV transition but with no viable options currently on the table, the race is on to find a solution that will drastically reduce emissions in the industry.

"Reducing emissions in transport and logistics is at the very top of our agenda, and at the heart of everything we do at Miralis, so to be partnering with companies at the forefront of electric road system technology is very exciting for us. We’re delighted to be working together and keen to see what can be achieved in the coming months.”

The project will run for nine months, with a report expected in Spring 2022.