Magway Ltd
Magway is a UK startup noted for its e-commerce and freight delivery system that aims to transport goods in pods that fit in new and existing 90 cm (35 in)-diameter pipes, underground and overground, reducing road congestion and air pollution.[1] It uses linear magnetic motors to shuttle pods, designed to accommodate a standard delivery crate (or tote), at approximately 31 miles per hour (50 km/h).[2]
Founded in 2017 by Rupert Cruise, an engineer on Elon Musk's Hyperloop project, and Phill Davies, a business expert, Magway secured a £0.65 million grant in 2018, through Innovate UK’s 'Emerging and Enabling Technologies' competition, to develop an operational demonstrator. In 2019, £1.58 million was raised through crowdfunding to fund a pilot scheme,[3] and in 2020, Magway was awarded £1.9 million[1] from the UK Government's 'Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge', an initiative launched to coincide with the first meeting of a new Cabinet committee focused on climate change. In September 2020, Magway completed its first full loop of test track in a warehouse in Wembley. [4]
Primarily focused on two freight routes from large consolidation centres near London (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Hatfield, Hertfordshire) into Park Royal, a west London distribution centre, future plans involve installing 850 kilometres (530 mi) of track in decommissioned London gas pipelines, to deliver e-commerce goods from distribution centres direct to consumers in the capital.[5] The design of the pipes is similar to the current underground pipe system in small tunnels that distribute water, gas, and electricity in the city.[6] The pods are powered by electromagnetic wave from magnetic motors that are similar to those used in roller coasters.[7] A proposed route that runs from Milton Keynes to London will have the capacity to transport more than 600 million parcels annually.[6] Outside of urban areas, Magway plans to build its pipe system alongside motorways.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Steer, George (2019-12-03). "The tunnels promising to overhaul how our shopping is delivered". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Excell, Jon (2019-11-20). "Magnetic freight delivery concept could slash road congestion". The Engineer. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ "Magway successfully raised £750,000 - Dec 2019". www.crowdcube.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ "Fix the Planet". view.e.newscientist.com. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
- ^ Phill Davies, co-founder/Commercial Director at Magway (19 October 2020). "Delivery in the pipeline". Construction & Civil Engineering. Issue 180. pp. 12–15.
- ^ a b Handley, Lucy (2019-11-14). "A start-up is planning an underground network of tunnels in the UK to deliver more than 600 million packages a year". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Langley, Edwina (2020-02-10). "Are these subterranean tunnels the future of deliveries?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Nott, George (October 2, 2020). "A greener future for food delivery?". The Grocer. Retrieved 2023-05-19.