The Swedish technology and logistics company envisions an AI-enhanced all-electric digital cargo transportation ecosystem which can save their customers time and money while curtailing harmful emissions.
,” which was held in New York City yesterday, I had a chance to speak with several company executives about the opportunities and challenges faced in this transition to a cleaner, smarter, more efficient transportation network.According to Einride, today’s freight transportation industry is rife with inefficiency and waste. The average freight run operates with diesel trucks loaded at less than 20% capacity.
The company is so confident in its ability to reach full autonomy that these AETs don’t even include space for a driver. This cuts down on unnecessary weight and complexity. The Einride AETs are monitored remotely by a human operator who can take control when necessary to avoid obstacles or pass through security checkpoints or gates. Einride’s autonomous vehicles are already operating on public roads and at customer sites in Sweden with remote oversight and remote drive capability.
One of the major hurdles that needs to be resolved in the path to autonomous vehicles is addressing the varied legislation and government regulations around self-driving vehicles. In the U.S, these regulations are being developed not only at the federal level but also at the individual state and county level. Many states are currently leaning toward the requirement for a safety driver to be present in any autonomous vehicle.
In partnership with Maersk, the first Einride Station in the U.S. is set to be constructed in 2023 near the Port of Los Angeles, the country’s busiest cargo port. This station will enable the deployment of Maersk’s fleet of Einride electric Trucks transporting freight from the port to destinations all along the West coast. The charging station is being built with enough capacity to accommodate future Einride deployments in the area as well as non-Einride electric fleets.