The introduction of connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) can make a significant improvement to logistic chains. The MODI project will identify and largely resolve barriers on confined areas and on public roads for SAE L4 CCAM vehicles on the corridor from Rotterdam to Oslo, and demonstrate the solutions. Coordination is a central element of development in this project: it enables early integration of CCAM in current logistic vehicle operations, adding more efficiency benefits for logistics companies and thus creating an attractive path to deployment. Coordination is also needed for smart traffic management in the public domain. The project comprises five different use cases, each describing a part of the logistics chain. It identifies what is already possible on SAE L4, and what is not possible yet. For the public roads, the project will focus on understanding and overcoming the regulatory barriers and PDI shortcomings on the motorway corridor with road authorities and OEMs of the project involved. In cocreation with all stakeholders the project will search for an optimal combination of physical, digital infrastructure and OEM equipment, easy to implement and low in costs for all parties. In addition to the demonstrations, the project provides detailed business models for the logistics sector, demonstrating that the use of CCAM can lead to greater profits, especially when vehicles drive on a coordinated way. The consortium consists of 8 industry partners: OEMs, ITS solutions providers, test centers and logistical companies; engineering and research providers with 4 RTOs, 3 universities; and associations of logistical companies, Tier 1 companies, ITS service providers. Complemented with road authorities and cities/regions along the corridor, representing the complete value chain. A strong stakeholder group is committed (signed LoS).

ePIcenter will create an interoperable cloud-based ecosystem of user-friendly extensible Artificial Intelligence-based logistics software solutions and supporting methodologies that will enable all players in global trade and international authorities to co-operate with ports, logistics companies and shippers, and to react in an agile way to volatile political and market changes and to major climate shifts impacting traditional freight routes. This will address the ever-increasing expectations of 21st century consumers for cheaper and more readily available goods and bring in Innovations in transport, such as hyperloops, autonomous/robotic systems (e.g. “T-pods”) and new last-mile solutions as well as technological initiatives such as blockchain, increased digitalisation, single windows, EGNOS positional precision and the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme. ePIcenter thus addresses MG-2-9-2019 of H2020 Mobility for Growth “InCo Flagship on Integrated multimodal, low-emission freight transport systems and logistics”, particularly in what refers to new logistics concepts, new disruptive technologies, new trade routes (including arctic routes and new Silk routes) and multimodal transfer zones. ePIcenter will speed up the path to a Physical Internet and will benefit peripheral regions and landlocked developing countries. ePIcenter will reduce fuel usage (and corresponding emissions) by 10-25%, lead to greater utilisation of greener modes of transport reducing long distance movements by trucks by 20-25% and ensure a smoother profile of arrivals at ports which will reduce congestion and waiting/turnaround times.