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Data Startups Cut City Emissions; Public Equity Play Missing
RoadEO, Altaroad, OSeven, and Loop use data to cut urban emissions. None trade publicly. Investors have no direct equity play on the technology. The European Commission funds some efforts under Horizon 2020.
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A handful of European data-driven startups is working on urban emissions, road maintenance, driver behavior, and last-mile delivery. RoadEO, Altaroad, OSeven, and Loop are all private. None have filed for an IPO. That leaves investors with no direct equity play on the technology they are deploying.
RoadEO uses satellite and sensor data to predict when roads need maintenance. Poor road surfaces increase fuel consumption and emissions, research has found. The company says its system can cut repair costs and reduce congestion-driven pollution. Altaroad embeds sensors beneath road surfaces to capture live traffic data. It can spot unbalanced loads on haulage lorries, which waste fuel and cause uneven road wear. Both companies let councils maintain roads proactively instead of reacting to potholes.
OSeven profiles driver behavior through mobile sensors. The platform identifies trips, vehicle type, and whether the user is driving economically. A 2012 meta-study from the RAC Foundation found that economical driving can cut fuel use by 10 to 20 percent. OSeven's clients include insurance companies, rental firms, and ride-sharing services. Insurers can reward safe, economical drivers with lower premiums. The side effect is less fuel burned and fewer emissions.