The UK is one of the largest and most dynamic markets for road freight in Europe, with around 1.4 billion tonnes of goods transported by road each year. However, this also means that road haulage is responsible for over 20% of domestic carbon emissions, posing a serious challenge for the country’s net zero goals.
A common goal of the UK Department for Transport and Einride, a Swedish company that offers digital, electric and autonomous solutions for freight mobility, is to create a sustainable future of freight. They aim to move goods with methods that are cost-efficient, dependable, resilient, seamless and net zero. This challenge requires a transformation of the current freight system to one that is more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Einride and its founders
Einride is a Swedish transport company that specializes in electric and self-driving vehicles. The company was founded in 2016 by Robert Falck, Filip Lilja and Linnéa Kornehed, who share a vision of making Earth a better place by transforming road freight with Autonomous Electric Transport (AET) and an intelligent freight mobility platform.
Robert Falck is the CEO and a founder of Einride. He is a serial entrepreneur who worked his way up from the factory floor of major OEMs before starting Einride. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering, economics and finance, and business administration. He believes that electrification and automation are the keys to solving climate change and creating a more desirable future.
Filip Lilja is the VP of Special Projects and a founder of Einride. He is a passionate business developer and builder of high-performing teams. He has worked in product development and IT consulting with several startups before co-founding Einride. He is responsible for leading strategic initiatives and partnerships that drive growth and innovation for Einride.
Linnéa Kornehed Falck is the CMO, Deputy CEO and a founder of Einride. She oversees making Einride a household name in sustainable, autonomous transport. She was recognized as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Europe for 2020. She has a background in product development and IT consulting with several startups before co-founding Einride. She oversees the marketing, communications, and brand strategy for Einride.
Einride enters the UK market with PepsiCo partnership
Einride announced on April 18th that it is expanding its operations into the UK, marking a pivotal moment for the British transport industry. Einride will provide the UK with a new and sustainable end-to-end road freight solution, through an ecosystem of products including:
– The intelligent platform Einride Saga, which optimises routes, monitors vehicles and collects data
– Electric and autonomous fleets, such as the Einride Pod, which can operate with or without a driver
– Charging infrastructure and connectivity networks, which enable seamless and efficient operations
Einride will create a regional network of freight transportation along the main motorways, the M1, M5 and M6 that connect the big urban areas of London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. The first phase will focus on the Midlands’ ‘golden logistics triangle’, which is within four hours’ driving distance of 90% of the UK population and hosts a large portion of the country’s logistics and warehousing facilities.
Walkers, a PepsiCo brand, will be Einride’s first commercial partner in the UK. Einride’s electric trucks will replace fossil-fuel-powered vehicles on the route between Walkers’ production sites in Leicester and Coventry. This will reduce CO2 emissions by over 1,600 tonnes and save more than 750,000 miles of fuel over three years.
“The UK has always been at the forefront of transport history. The efficient and innovative movement of goods has consistently been integral to the growth and prosperity of the UK, with the British pioneering both the railway system and canal networks,” said Robert Falck, Founder and CEO of Einride. “We’re honoured to be here, teaming up with local partners to further establish the UK as a transport pioneer and ultimately help the country meet its net zero goals.”
How does Einride compare to other electric truck startups in the UK?
Einride is not the only company that is trying to disrupt the UK’s road freight sector with electric and autonomous vehicles. In fact, there are at least five other startups that are already developing or deploying their own solutions in the British market. Here are some of them:
Volta Trucks
A Swedish-British company that aims to launch the world’s first 16-tonne fully electric truck by the end of 2022. The Volta Zero has a range of 200 km and a top speed of 90 km/h. It also features a central driving position and a 360-degree camera system for improved visibility and safety. Volta Trucks has secured orders from several customers in the UK and Europe, including DPD Group and Petit Forestier.
Tevva
A British-Israeli company that offers electric trucks with a range extender technology that allows them to travel up to 400 km on a single charge. The Tevva eTruck has a payload capacity of 11 tonnes and can be configured for different applications such as refrigeration or urban delivery. Tevva has partnered with UPS, DHL and Ocado to test its vehicles on real-world routes in the UK.
Arrival
A British company backed by Russian billionaire Denis Sverdlov that produces modular electric vehicles using micro factories. The Arrival Van has a range of up to 300 km and a payload capacity of up to 2 tonnes. It also features an advanced driver assistance system and a digital cockpit. Arrival has secured orders from UPS, Royal Mail and LeasePlan in the UK and abroad.
Oxbotica
A British company that develops software for autonomous vehicles. Oxbotica’s platform can operate on any vehicle type, any hardware configuration and any environment. Oxbotica has partnered with Ocado to test autonomous delivery vans in London. It has also collaborated with Ford to test self-driving trucks in Oxford.
Tesla
A US-based company known for its electric cars, but it also has a presence in the electric truck market. Tesla’s Semi is an electric truck that has been designed to be more aerodynamic, have lower maintenance costs, and be more environmentally friendly than traditional diesel trucks. Like Einride, Tesla’s Semi is equipped with advanced autonomous driving technology, which allows it to drive itself on highways. The Semi has a range of up to five hundred miles on a single charge, making it a viable option for long haul routes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Einride’s entry into the UK market is a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient freight mobility system. The Swedish company’s electric and autonomous vehicles, along with its intelligent platform, offer a cost-effective and resilient alternative to traditional diesel trucks. By partnering with PepsiCo’s Walkers brand, Einride will demonstrate the benefits of its technology for both the environment and the economy. However, Einride is not alone in this field, as it faces competition from other electric truck startups such as Volta Trucks, Tevva Motors, and Arrival. Moreover, it will have to contend with the looming presence of Tesla’s Semi, which is expected to launch in Europe soon. Additionally, it will have to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of autonomous driving in the UK, where companies like Oxbotica are already testing self-driving vehicles on public roads. Therefore, Einride will have to prove its value proposition and differentiate itself from its rivals to succeed in the UK.
