A WEST Lothian company which is creating an app to help electric vehicle drivers avoid “range anxiety” has been awarded a research and development grant of more than £285,000 by Scottish Enterprise.
Algorithm specialist Route Monkey, based in Livingston, is developing software to enable drivers of battery-powered cars, vans and trucks to plan the best routes. Its planned online portal will give turn-by-turn directions through a smartphone navigation app, and identify charging points en route.
Taxpayer-funded Scottish Enterprise has awarded Route Monkey a research and development grant of £285,451. The planned overall cost of the project, Scottish Enterprise notes, is £749,931.
Route Monkey plans to use Trakm8’s telematics technology to provide electric vehicle drivers with real-time journey and battery data, on their smartphones, enabling them to factor in extra recharging time, depending on journey conditions, as routes were recalculated.
Electric vehicle advocate and television presenter Quentin Willson said: “Route Monkey’s game-changing, journey-planning software will give more drivers the confidence to choose electric vehicles over their conventionally-powered counterparts and help banish the ‘range anxiety’ monster for good.
“Route Monkey’s app is what all EV [electric vehicle] drivers have been waiting for and will change the electric car landscape for the better.”
Jim Watson, director of innovation and enterprise services at Scottish Enterprise said: “This is an exciting idea that could accelerate take-up of EVs, by making them more cost-effective and even easier to use.”
Mr Watson declared that Scotland was leading the way in “encouraging the take-up” of electric vehicles.
He added: “After London, ChargePlace Scotland is the largest EV [electric vehicle] charging network in the UK, while Dundee is also home to the largest local authority EV fleet as well as an all-electric taxi fleet.”
He added: “Innovative companies like Route Monkey play a key role in enabling Scotland to spearhead the switch to lower-carbon transport, and in developing leading-edge technologies that we can export to the world.”
Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said: “Encouraging and nurturing innovation is a key element of our plan for Scotland’s economy. It helps businesses grow and access new markets and new customers, protecting and creating jobs.
“Route Monkey is a great example of a digital business that is innovating and this project is a world leader – which will also help owners and developers of electric vehicles. It is great news Scottish Enterprise has been able to support its product development through this R&D funding.”
Scottish Enterprise said: “This grant will accelerate the company’s R&D programme, enabling it to deliver this unique ‘software as a service’ offering to the market as quickly as possible.”
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