Phase 2: Developing a prototype AI tool to help commercial fleets adopt optimum zero-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Regulations to reduce road vehicle emissions mean that logistics fleets are facing the challenge of transitioning from traditional fossil fuel powered vehicles to zero-emissions vehicles. For fleets to manage the transition effectively they must understand the costs and business models of zero-emission vehicles. Whilst legislation sets out the long-term deadline for the adoption of zero-emission vehicles it does not define the path of transition. Without commercial and technical understanding driving the transition to zero-emission vehicles there will be delays in uptake of new technologies, missed opportunities for reductions in harmful emissions, and fleets will incur unnecessary costs. Dynamon can help to solve this problem.

Dynamon is a team of data scientists and engineers that build data analytics tools to help logistics companies optimise their procurement decisions to minimise costs and reduce their impact on the environment. In this project Dynamon will create a software tool that will enable fleets to automatically assess the optimum zero-emission vehicle specifications and charging infrastructure requirements to perform their specific operation.This tool will be usable by existing employees of commercial fleets, without expertise in data analytics or vehicle engineering, to provide them with accurate and actionable intelligence enabling them to make informed procurement decisions that minimise total-cost-of-ownership.

The tools that Dynamon will create will combine zero-emission vehicle laboratory test data with multiple forms of geospatial data that describe the fleet's unique operation and environmental conditions. By combining these data sources Dynamon will build a digital twin of potential zero-emission vehicles that will accurately forecast key metrics including energy consumption, range, cargo potential, charging requirements, etc allowing the optimum vehicle for the fleet's conditions to be confidently purchased.

Dynamon will work closely with fleet partners Wincanton PLC, Sainsbury's PLC and ASDA to ensure that the proposed solution is feasible, meets the needs of commercial fleets, and will have a credible business model to scale both nationally and internationally. Hampshire County Council will provide support and promote this tool to large fleets as part of their ongoing commitment to reduce harmful emissions in their local areas.