GoMetro, a B2B software-as-a-service fleet management company originally founded in South Africa and now based in London, has been awarded a £147,000 (R3.2 million) grant from the UK Freight Innovation Fund. This follows closely after the company secured £9 million ($11.4 million) in Series A funding, led by Zenobē Energy and Futuregrowth Asset Management.
“The grant will be used to finance a six-month trial with leading UK logistics companies Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport to implement GoMetro’s EV-FIT solution for electric vehicle (EV) fleet transformation and the GoMetro Bridge fleet management software platform,” says Group CEO and founder of GoMetro Justin Coetzee.
GoMetro, in collaboration with its trial partners, will gather and analyze fleet movement data from a selected depot in the UK to identify essential vehicle and infrastructure specifications.
“The grant is an amazing validation for GoMetro in the UK freight market, and implementing our solution with major logistics players is an incredible opportunity to show how our software platform can help fleet owners achieve better results,” Coetzee said.
GoMetro’s EV-FIT project lead, Christopher de Saxe, comments: “I’m thrilled to be trialling our solution with MaritimeTransport and Welch’s Transport to address one of the UK’s biggest decarbonisation challenges. Data is fundamental to decarbonising UK road freight, and we have the tools needed to unlock key insights for the industry.”
On 10 October, UK Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood announced the third round of funding for the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Programme. This initiative, supported by a £7-million government investment over three years, aims to enhance the freight sector by implementing AI and automation technologies to improve the transportation of parcels and goods via trains, lorries, vans, and ships.
The programme is funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership.
During the announcement, Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said, “Freight is a crucial engine of our economy and it is only right we do all we can to improve working conditions, pioneer innovation and drive sustainability across the industry.
“Our funding, combined with investment from the industry, will ensure lorry drivers can enjoy safer parking, a proper rest and a warm meal, while supporting UK businesses to harvest the best of technology to move freight faster, decarbonise our supply chain, and grow the economy for all.”
Delivered by Connected Places Catapult, the Freight Innovation Fund gives SMEs access to technical and business support from the organisation to develop new groundbreaking projects.
Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult, Erika Lewis, said, “This programme gives bespoke support to SMEs, working hand-in-hand with industry as they trial their solutions in real-world environments. By supporting new ideas in freight, we are helping to unlock the sector’s potential to be greener and more efficient.”
EV-FIT is GoMetro’s electric vehicle (EV) feasibility and planning solution, powered by its telematics aggregation platform, Bridge. Due to the complexity of lorry operations and the significant upfront investments in vehicles and infrastructure, a tailored EV transition plan is essential to meet the specific needs of each fleet.
According to de Saxe, telematics data plays a crucial role in this process. It provides valuable insights into key operational metrics like daily mileage and idle time at depots. These insights are used to determine the appropriate vehicle and charging infrastructure specifications, including battery capacities, as well as the number, power, and location of chargers.
