Introduction
GoMetro, a South African-founded B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) company now headquartered in London, has been awarded a £147,000 (R3.3 million) grant from the UK Freight Innovation Fund. The grant is aimed at accelerating the company’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet transformation initiatives within the UK’s freight sector.
This milestone comes shortly after GoMetro’s successful Series A funding round, where the company raised £9 million (R205 million). The round was led by Zenobē Energy and Futuregrowth Asset Management, signaling strong investor confidence in GoMetro's growth potential.
Trial Partnerships with UK Logistics Giants
Justin Coetzee, GoMetro's group CEO and founder, announced that the grant would fund a six-month trial in collaboration with two major UK logistics companies—Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport. The trial will focus on implementing GoMetro’s EV-FIT solution, designed for electric vehicle fleet transitions, and its fleet management platform, GoMetro Bridge.
During the trial, GoMetro will collect and analyze fleet movement data at selected UK depots, providing insights into critical vehicle and infrastructure requirements. This data-driven approach is expected to enable fleet owners to optimize the transition to electric vehicles effectively.
A Step Forward in Decarbonizing Freight
Coetzee highlighted the importance of this grant as a validation of GoMetro’s efforts in the UK freight market. He noted, “This opportunity to work with leading logistics companies allows us to demonstrate how our software can help fleet owners achieve better results.”
Christopher de Saxe, the project lead for GoMetro’s EV-FIT, expressed enthusiasm about the trial: “We are excited to partner with Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport to tackle one of the UK’s biggest decarbonization challenges. Data will play a key role in transforming road freight, and we have the tools to unlock crucial insights for the industry.”
UK Freight Innovation Fund: Investing in a Greener Future
The £147,000 grant comes as part of the UK Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Programme, an initiative launched by the UK Department for Transport. The program, which represents a £7 million (R160 million) investment over three years, aims to support the freight industry’s adoption of artificial intelligence and automation to enhance efficiency.
Lilian Greenwood, the UK’s Future of Roads minister, emphasized the importance of innovation in freight logistics, stating, “Freight is the backbone of our economy. This funding will help the industry improve working conditions, drive sustainability, and accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.”
The Freight Innovation Fund is delivered through Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities and transport. SMEs like GoMetro benefit from both technical and business support as they pilot their solutions in real-world scenarios.
GoMetro’s EV-FIT: Custom Solutions for Fleet Electrification
GoMetro’s EV-FIT solution, powered by its Bridge telematics aggregation platform, offers fleet owners a tailored approach to electrifying their operations. With lorry fleets requiring substantial upfront investments in vehicles and charging infrastructure, data insights become crucial for effective planning.
Telematics data collected through GoMetro’s platform helps identify essential operational metrics, such as daily mileage and depot idle times, providing guidance on vehicle battery capacities, the number and location of chargers, and other critical infrastructure needs.
Accelerating Decarbonization with GoMetro
GoMetro’s involvement in the UK Freight Innovation Fund not only positions the company as a key player in the EV transition but also demonstrates its commitment to driving sustainability in logistics. As part of the third cohort of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator, GoMetro joins other innovative SMEs, including Botanic Energy, Ecomar Propulsion, and RailX, in reshaping the future of freight transportation.
With this grant, GoMetro is set to help logistics companies in the UK make significant strides toward decarbonization, all while advancing its own mission of transforming fleet management across borders.
