Scottish startup creates aerodynamic trailers that cut HGV emissions by 33pc

A University of Edinburgh graduate has developed revolutionary aerodynamic HGV trailers that dramatically reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by capitalising on the unused space within empty trailers.

Aeroflow, founded by graduate Sam Evans, secured top prize in the Net Zero category, sponsored by SSE, at this year’s Converge Awards, an annual awards ceremony designed to celebrate and reward the pinnacle of Scottish academic innovation.

The company impressed judges with its innovative approach to tackling transport emissions, earning a £30,000 cash prize and in-kind business support from Converge’s network of industry partners. Unlike traditional box-shaped trailers that create unnecessary aerodynamic drag when not fully loaded, Aeroflow’s trailers change shape by utilising empty space, reducing drag by 33%.

The technology is fuel agnostic, meaning it delivers benefits regardless of whether diesel, electric or hydrogen is being used, increasing range, enhancing cost savings and reducing emissions across all HGV applications. Current aerodynamic add-ons only reduce drag by 3-7% and aren’t widely adopted due to safety concerns, making Aeroflow’s breakthrough particularly significant for the logistics industry.

Converge is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, a network of seven corporate partners and all 19 of Scotland’s universities. Since its launch in 2011, the programme has trained over 830 aspiring founders and supported the creation of over 450 companies that enjoy an above-average three-year survival rate of over 86% (Beauhurst data, as of September 2025).

Open to students, recent graduates, and staff, Converge supports new businesses through intensive business training, networking, 1-2-1 support, generous equity free cash prizes and expert, professional advice from its roster of industry partners.