Kinetic energy recovery for urban logistics applications (KERS-URBAN)

Delivery vans in UK cities will soon test a mechanical flywheel system that captures braking energy to cut fuel use and tailpipe emissions. This matters because urban delivery fleets—from supermarket trucks to builders’ merchant lorries—run stop-start routes that waste large amounts of energy as heat during braking. Current hybrid systems rely on heavy batteries, which add weight and cost. The kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) from Alternatech stores braking energy in a spinning flywheel and releases it during acceleration, reducing the load on the diesel engine without adding battery mass. If the trial succeeds, the technology could lower fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions across thousands of urban delivery vehicles. Noise measurements will also assess whether quieter engine operation reduces disturbance for residents on delivery routes. The project will further optimise route planning to match the KERS system’s performance characteristics, maximising savings. The partners—Howdens, Sainsbury’s, Alternatech, and Imperial College London—will retrofit 10 vehicles and compare them against conventional fleet vehicles using telematics data and emissions modelling. This is an applied engineering trial, not fundamental science; its direct aim is a commercially viable retrofit that improves urban air quality and cuts operating costs for logistics companies.