Software: Here adopts Migros tool for green drive choice

The global geodata and navigation software corporation Here has adopted a software tool from Swiss trading company Migros to determine the most suitable drive type for its truck deployments. The application is intended to be made accessible to logistics providers worldwide in the future. The program was developed by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in collaboration with the retail group. Migros uses the software to find out which drive type causes the lowest CO2 emissions for each operation. The Migros fleet includes trucks powered by hydrogen, biogas, biodiesel, or electricity.

As Empa reports, Here, as a specialist in geodata and navigation software, now has the necessary data foundations to show logisticians worldwide the "most climate-friendly" drive type for any route. The software company is a subsidiary of German car manufacturers Audi, BMW, and Daimler, with additional partners including Intel, Bosch, and the Chinese Tencent corporation. Continental, NTT, Pioneer, and Mitsubishi are also stakeholders.

Comparison of Drive Types

Worldwide, Here, whose EMEA headquarters are located in Eindhoven, Netherlands, supplies logistics companies with map material; one of them is the Migros Cooperative Association (MGB) with its around 800 trucks. The adopted software resulted from the collaboration between Migros and Empa and was intended to convert the truck fleet to renewable energies. The application now supports the company in transforming the vehicle fleet to low CO2 drive types, according to reports.

The program analyzes performance, range, payload, and costs for individual routes based on the fuel used. The options are hydrogen, electric, biogas, and biodiesel. At the same time, it calculates the "realistically expected" CO2 savings compared to conventional diesel trucks. According to statements from Empa, synthetic fuels can also be integrated through the "connection to environmental balance databases."

Available as a test version until March 31, 2022

According to the information, Migros has been using the ISO and DIN certified software for several months under the name "M Opex Tower." Under the new name "CO2 Insights," it will now be integrated into Here's software offering, making it available to logistics service providers worldwide.

According to the report, the test version is available free of charge to all Here customers until March 31, 2022. Additionally, Migros is offering the software for purchase to companies worldwide.

Research for ten years

Empa is part of the interdisciplinary research institute in the Department of Materials Science at the Zurich Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and sees itself, according to its own statements, as a bridge between research and practice. Research into the efficiency behavior of vehicles began there ten years ago in the Vehicle Drive Systems department. It was discovered that the energy consumption of vehicles for any journey can be calculated using a mathematical function.