Wellington-based Critchlow Geospatial has won a top global prize for its SwitchMyFleet solution which helps New Zealand fleets and commercial vehicles transition to EVs.
The company was named the winner in the Location-Based Services category at the Geospatial World Innovation Awards 2021 held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The event is an internationally acclaimed awards programme that recognises leaders in the global geospatial industry.
Critchlow Geospatial’s SwitchMyFleet solution is an online evaluation tool for businesses considering transitioning their fleet to electric vehicles.
The company developed the technology to increase the pace at which New Zealand businesses transition to electric vehicles, demonstrating the viability of electric vans and trucks in each business’ unique situation.
SwitchMyFleet is a free, easy-to-use tool that balances time, distance, and energy use to calculate the metrics that fleet operators and transport businesses need to build their business cases for transition.
Critchlow Geospatial received government co-funding administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to help develop the solution which is believed to be a world-first in its level of real-world commercial fleet transition modelling.
SwitchMyFleet is powered by authoritative address and three-dimensional road network data from NationalMap, combined with route optimisation algorithms that balance time, distance, and energy use to calculate the operational cost metrics that fleet operators and transport businesses need to build their business cases for transition.
It accommodates each user’s real-world environment by testing different vehicle types and battery sizes to determine their fleet requirements. It then forecasts and compares the operating costs of conventional vehicles and commercial EVs.
Critchlow Geospatial managing director Steve Critchlow says the technology was designed with a clear view to helping New Zealand fleet operators “right size” their EV fleets to make the path to transition from internal combustion engines easier.
There was also “huge potential” in bringing a successful solution to international markets as well, he says.
“This award is fantastic recognition and a real validation of the potential for SwitchMyFleet to have a global impact, one that can help accelerate not only New Zealand, but the whole world, towards more sustainable transport systems,” Critchlow says.
EECA transport portfolio manager Richard Briggs is congratulating the team for the award.
“We are pleased that Critchlow Geospatial has been recognised at a global level for their team’s ability to bring together the physics of moving vehicles, New Zealand geospatial data, and route optimisation algorithms to build a free online tool to enable our transport sector to make the transition from ICE to electric, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving costs.”
Critchlow Geospatial has also been named a finalist for SwitchMyFleet in two categories at the New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards which will be held next year.
*Go to critchlow.co.nz/products/switchmyfleet to check out the free online tool.
