Kinetic energy recovery for urban logistics applications (KERS-URBAN)

This collaborative project aims to evaluate the energy and emissions benefits of a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) supplied by Alternatech for urban delivery vehicles, including both articulated and rigid vehicles. The partners include Howdens, Sainsbury’s, Alternatech and Imperial College London. During the trial period, Howdens and Sainsbury’s will introduce 10 vehicles modified by Alternatech into their fleet alongside conventional vehicles. Vehicle telematics data will be collected by Imperial College to quantify the reduction in fuel consumption, CO2 emissions. Emissions testing and advanced vehicle emissions modelling will enable the team to evaluate the benefit of this technology to urban air quality. Furthermore, as the KERS technology reduces the load on the diesel engine, noise measurements will be used to evaluate the potential benefits to residents. This project will also evaluate the opportunity to optimise delivery routes and schedules to best-match the performance characteristics of the KERS system to give the greatest emissions and fuel consumption reductions.