Microlise telematics technology will capture data for four consortia receiving £5.5 million of Government funding between them for Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trials (LEFT).

The aim of the LEFT initiative is to demonstrate new technologies and to encourage the widespread introduction of low and zero emission commercial vehicles in UK fleets.

In four of the trials Microlise is installing telematics hardware to vehicles powered by both electric engines and gas, some of which are dual fuel.

It will capture and store vehicle data separately for each consortium. The creation of a Big Data lake for each will allow analysts to access activity information, driving data, performance data and more.

The LEFT funding, announced at the Sustainable Road Transport Conference earlier this year, has been allocated to 20 firms in total and is being funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) in partnership with Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

Four of the collaborative R&D projects, with overall costs of £9.93m, feature Microlise as a technical solutions partner.

All are scheduled to last for two years and began in April 2017.

Matthew Hague, executive director – product strategy at Microlise, said: “We are pleased to be part of the biggest practical trial of low and zero emission heavy goods vehicles in the UK.

“We are hoping the outcome of the projects will be research conclusions and recommendations as well as exploitable developments which will expedite the rollout of alternative technologies in UK fleets. It’s also great experience for us as a company to get hands-on with leading edge technologies in development now."

Microlise is technology partner in the following consortia, led by the companies named:

Air Liquide Group: receiving the largest amount of funding – £2.57 million – for its project trialing biogas in 86 lorries ranging from 26 tonnes to 44 tonnes. In addition, five refrigeration units will be using a prototype liquid nitrogen system.

Kuehne + Nagel #1: a collaboration to deploy 29 of the latest generation 44 tonne dual fuel and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) articulated trucks. The project will deploy three state-of-the-art truck technologies with a high-profile fleet and promote the reintroduction of liquid bio methane into the UK market.

Kuehne + Nagel #2: a demonstration and study of zero emission capable trucks and refrigeration units in urban environments.

G-volution Ltd: the development and demonstration of 15 dual fuel (diesel/gas) 44 Tonne road vehicles that comply fully with Euro VI emissions regulations by utilising novel combustion and emission control technologies to reduce methane slip and improve overall combustion efficiency, therefore reducing running.