Mayor backs real world transport trials to help parcel deliveries go green

Mayor Richard Parker visited the WMG at the University of Warwick yesterday (Wednesday 9 April) to see live trials of futuristic electric cargo vehicles that could eventually replace petrol and diesel delivery vans on UK roads.

Funding from the West Midlands Innovation Programme - part of the region's successful Innovation Accelerator - is being used by the Last Mile Logistics Project to turn the university’s ‘mini city’ campus into a testbed for a small fleet of low-speed electric delivery vehicles to demonstrate how they can cut congestion and improve air quality.

Researchers want to work with the Department for Transport to see how the data and learnings from the trials can help understand the barriers to making these vehicles legal to use on UK roads and cycle lanes.

As the trials progress, the project team will also champion the region and its well-established automotive supply chain to help to establish the West Midlands as an assembly hub for this new type of vehicle, creating jobs for local people.

The Last Mile Logistics Project is a partnership between the university and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). The vehicles are just some of the hundreds of groundbreaking new products and technologies that are being developed in the West Midlands with funding from the region’s successful Innovation Accelerator.

The Mayor said: “The West Midlands has led transport innovation for centuries - from Watt’s steam engine to the first bicycle and petrol car.

“Now in the 21st century we’re stepping up to tackle modern-day challenges. With online shopping booming, the delivery sector is playing an ever increasing role in our regional economy, generating much needed jobs for local people.

“That’s why I'm funding the Last Mile Logistics Project to find new ways of keeping goods moving while cutting congestion and improving air quality.

“The government is backing my plan to invest in top talent and tech so we can reduce our carbon emissions and get everyone to net zero while creating jobs. That’s how I’m going to build cleaner communities and a stronger, more prosperous economy.”

Mark Urbanowski, principal engineer for micromobility at WMG at the University of Warwick, said: “We couldn’t run these trials without Innovation Accelerator funding. These vehicles aren’t legal on UK roads yet, so they’re not available to buy. The funding allowed us to adapt a cargo bike with throttle control and bring in proven models from the Netherlands, now being tested by the university’s delivery, waste and recycling, and maintenance teams.

“It’s going to take a shift in behaviour and more regulatory and legislative work to get these low-speed vehicles into use. There’s real potential to lower emissions, improve air quality and reduce congestion in our communities. Economically, tens of thousands could be rolled out, all designed, engineered, and built in the UK with a full supply chain behind them.”

During the visit to the University of Warwick, the Mayor also set out plans to use another £10million of innovation funding secured from the government to help innovators and entrepreneurs turn even more ideas into jobs, businesses, and global export opportunities.

The Innovation Accelerator programme is led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

In the West Midlands, it's managed for the Mayor by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has already supported more than 700 businesses.

This is helping to commercialise new products and technologies in healthcare, health diagnostics and the transition to net zero, securing an additional £70million of investment and creating and securing hundreds of local jobs.

Dean Cook, executive director for place and global at Innovate UK, said: “The Innovation Accelerator pilot stands as a testament to the power of uniting national strategies with locally empowered decision-making.

“At the heart of our approach lies the principle of co-creation, recognising the wisdom of local people with a deep understanding of local strengths and knowing best their needs.

“This local knowledge is complemented by our reach at Innovate UK as the national innovation agency, linking these regional clusters with opportunities provided by national and international networks both within Government and beyond.

“It is fantastic to secure additional funding for this programme which is making a meaningful impact on the lives of local communities whether that be improved access to healthcare, more efficient infrastructure or a cleaner and greener environment.

“I can’t wait to see what can be achieved in this next iteration of the programme.”

Find out more about the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator at on the WMCA website.