Second phase of fleet safety and sustainability project launches

Data from vehicles, smart cities and the energy grid will help drive fleet safety, sustainability and efficiency in new, real-world trials.

Project Sliced2 (Smarter Logistics through In-vehicle, City and Energy Data), which is being launched by Cenex and Flexible Power Systems (FPS), aims to build on the success of the original Project Sliced feasibility study.

Funded by Innovate UK, the first phase of Sliced, which finished in March 2025, identified the key areas in which a smart logistics demonstrator should focus: driver impairment and behaviour, road conditions, energy flexibility enabled by electric vehicles (EVs), and leveraging smart city data (e.g. traffic flow, disruptions, large events).

In this second phase, the focus shifts to demonstrating these systems in live environments, showcasing the integration of data from vehicles, smart cities, and the energy grid for everyday logistics management.

Victor Lejona, modelling and analysis team leader at Cenex, said: “Sliced was an eye-opening feasibility study that told us there is more to do regarding data integration between fleets, cities and the energy grid.

“We are very excited to begin the demonstration in the real world to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and barriers of the system in different environments, with different vehicle types and different fleet operations.”

Through Sliced, FPS will deploy an extended version of its Operate platform, incorporating driver and road condition monitoring devices developed in South Korea, along with real-time data from cities and the energy grid.

Cenex will lead the project’s demonstrations and evaluations in the UK, forming a “Voice of the Customer” group collaborating with fleets such as John Lewis Partnership, Welch Group, and a broader stakeholder group that includes HTC and Wincanton.

Jackie Hewson, alternative fuels implementation manager at John Lewis Partnership, said: "As we continue the electrification of our fleet the importance of trialling new technologies to enhance operations in urban environments has taken on even greater importance.

“By adopting the FPS Operate Platform we have been able to integrate data from our vehicles and leverage greater operational efficiency, improve partner driving style & behaviours and drive forward our sustainability targets.”

Jamie Sands, head of solutions at Welch Group, added: “For us, Sliced isn't just about collecting more data. It's about using the right data in the right way to drive real operational change.

“When fleets, cities, and the energy grid all start speaking the same language, we can make smarter decisions, reduce waste, and improve safety. That’s not just innovation for innovation’s sake. It’s progress you can actually see on the road.”

The technology being tested not only promotes safer and more efficient vehicle operations in the context of large-scale EV adoption but also establishes a framework for data sharing between cities and fleets. This can lead to benefits such as cleaner air, reduced congestion, and lower logistics costs.

South Korean partners Thallos, Innoca, Keti, and Kaata will continue to provide in-vehicle safety systems and technical support.

Discussions are also ongoing to explore a cross-border joint venture structure that could facilitate the co-commercialisation of these solutions in both countries and beyond.

The project will run until March 2027, with the demonstration planned to begin in Q1, 2026.

In preparation for the trials programme, efforts are focused on initiating co-operation between fleets and cities, developing the South Korean in-vehicle systems, and expanding the FPS Operate platform to integrate several additional data streams that will be generated during the project.

Michael Ayres, managing director at Flexible Power Systems, said: “Logistics fleets are part of a complex supply chain ecosystem on which we all rely.

“Better integration of city and energy network intelligence into fleet decision making will improve the efficiency of these operations as EV adoption gathers pace.

“Moreover, this connection also has the potential to significantly improve quality of life in the communities in which these fleets operate.”

Cenex was established as the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell technologies in 2005.

Today, Cenex focuses on low emission transport and associated energy infrastructure, operating as an independent, not-for-profit, research and technology organisation and consultancy, specialising in project delivery, innovation support and market development.