How Beryl & Fujitsu Use Digital Twin Tech for E-Mobility
Fujitsu and micromobility provider Beryl have partnered on a field trial to enhance sustainable urban transport in Norwich, England,
At the heart of the partnership is Social Digital Twin (SDT) technology which is enabling more efficient deployment of rental bays and promoting smarter urban mobility.
- SDT technology uses digital twins to model and simulate social systems, enabling the simulation of human behaviour and interactions in a virtual environment
- SDT for "digital rehearsal" of policies and interventions before implementation in the real world, helping to predict their impact and optimise outcomes
- SDTs are particularly useful for addressing complex social challenges like CO₂ reduction, urban planning and disaster resilience by providing a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and explore different solutions
Employing SDT technology, the project chooses optimal sites for rental hubs, with sites selected through SDT recording double the ridership and revenue versus traditional methods.
Sustainable transport meets smart technology
Beryl facilitates an expanding network of shared bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and cargo bikes. In Norwich alone, the company offers more than 175 bay locations, providing residents with sustainable and efficient transport alternatives. As Beryl continues to grow, integrating a data-driven approach for selecting future bay locations becomes crucial to minimising risks, maximising usage and furthering sustainability goals.
Partnering with Fujitsu, Beryl utilises SDT technology to meet this objective.
"Our work with Fujitsu on utilising Social Digital Twin tools is invaluable in allowing us to increase accessibility to our vehicles on-street, while maximising ridership and revenue through addressing lost opportunities,” says Ben Lee, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Beryl.
“This work is key in enabling us to deliver the best service in Norwich by providing the optimum bay network."
Combining multiple data sources, SDT creates a virtual model of real-world commuting patterns by analysing factors like residential areas, travel methods and influences on mobility choices. This empowers Beryl to strategically position new rental hubs and outperform traditionally selected sites in terms of ridership and revenue.
Real world environmental impact
SDT not only facilitates optimal transportation strategies but also showcases the role of digital tools in promoting sustainable business practices. Beryl employs a fleet powered by more than 71% low-impact renewable energy and has significantly reduced gas consumption, substituting the remainder with biogas.
The company's assembly hub operates on 100% renewable energy, leading to reduced emissions in manufacturing and logistics.
"This field trial with Beryl has underlined the operational value of Social Digital Twin, doubling both ridership and revenue in real terms,” says Dr Makiko Hisatomi, Executive Director, Fujitsu Research of Europe.
“The benefits are tangible, from helping to reduce traffic congestion and GHG emissions for cleaner air in Norwich to enhancing Beryl’s revenue and de-risking decision-making about where to site future rental bays.
“It is a prime example of how our technology can contribute to society via a demand-based data-driven approach, building a viable strategy to achieve Net Positive."
Beryl further advances sustainability by adhering to circular economy principles.
The "hire and share" model reduces the number of vehicles on the road. Additionally, bikes and scooters feature interchangeable parts for easy maintenance and recycling, with components either reused or processed through accredited partners, including complete recycling of batteries, tires and inner tubes.
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