Companies from the logistics and automotive industries have joined forces with cities andresearchers in the European Project, FIDEUS (Freight Intelligent Delivery of Goods on European
Urban Spaces). The project, which is to last for three years, aims to handle distribution anddelivery traffic in European city centers more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendlymanner.This is possible through the concerted linkage of new vehicular technologies with innovativeapproaches in logistics and traffic management. Under FIDEUS, three new types of vehicles are beingdeveloped and tested: an innovative electric freight transporter for sensitive areas such aspedestrian zones, an enhanced 3.5-ton transporter and a 12-ton truck, optimized for city traffic.All three vehicle types are equipped with state-of-the-art drive, loading and communicationtechnology. Communication technology plays an important role in traffic management, in that itenables improved interactive communication with municipal traffic directing centers. As an exampleof this, trucks would be able to register to use specific loading zones or react in a timely mannerto a sudden disruption of access.
It is expected that FIDEUS’ improved logistics, transshipment and transport processes willsubstantially contribute to the reduction of emissions and traffic pollution in cities. This is theonly way, in the face of new environmental regulations, that one can assure over the long run thatsupplies will reach companies, stores and citizens in heavily populated urban areas. The projectwill be tested in Hanover, Barcelona, and Lyon.
The Pan-European project consortium includes vehicle manufacturers (Centro Ricerche FIAT, IVECO,Renault Trucks), robotics and fleet management specialists (Cybernetix; MIZARAutomazione),logistics companies (DHL Express; TNT Innight), local governments and supra-regionalcity alliances (Barcelona, Hannover, Lyon; IMPACTS) as well as universities and research institutes(University of Westminster; Fraunhofer Institut).
