What Cenex does

Cenex (legally "The Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon & Fuel Cell Technologies") is an independent, not-for-profit UK consultancy headquartered in Holywell Building, Holywell Park, Loughborough, structured as a private company limited by guarantee (Company Number 05371158). Founded in 2005 and employing 11-50 staff, the organisation delivers low-emission vehicle research, feasibility studies, and advisory engagements spanning transport decarbonisation, EV infrastructure planning, and connected and automated mobility (CAM). Its operating model is organised around three service pillars: Transport (fleet electrification advisory), Energy Systems & Infrastructure (charging infrastructure deployment including depot and dynamic wireless charging), and Knowledge & Enterprise (research, data analytics, and the NEVIS platform).

Cenex's proprietary technology stack centres on the EIGER fleet and workplace charging modelling tool, the NEVIS (National EV Insights and Support) data, mapping, and modelling platform for local authorities and consultancies, the ClearCapture fleet review service that processes vehicle CANbus telemetry for driving-behaviour and diagnostic insights, and ongoing involvement in the Dynacov dynamic wireless charging road trial in Coventry testing power-enabled coils embedded in road surfaces. Revenue is generated primarily through professional services—quote-based consultancy engagements with government bodies, local authorities, and enterprise clients—supplemented by participation in publicly funded R&D programmes, most prominently the UK Government's £150m CAM Pathfinder initiative and the £30m depot charging scheme delivered jointly with the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Cenex's customer base skews toward the UK public sector (Department for Transport, Transport for Wales, Welsh Local Authorities, NHS ambulance services, UK police and fire services, Coventry City Council) alongside a narrower enterprise cohort including Vauxhall, Nissan, OXA Autonomy, and PA Consulting. Distribution is direct and consultative, with credibility reinforced through the annual Cenex Expo, public research reports, blog content, and engagement on LinkedIn and X. The organisation is expanding geographically through the Cenex Nederland Foundation and adjacent Netherlands/Belgium projects (FLHyPorts hydrogen valley), and is broadening vertically into hydrogen and marine electrification (PINS project).

Name

Cenex

Legal name

The Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon & Fuel Cell Technologies

Website

https://cenex.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cenex is a UK not-for-profit consultancy delivering transport decarbonisation, EV infrastructure planning, and connected automated mobility research for government bodies, local authorities, and emergency services. It operates the NEVIS data platform, EIGER modelling tool, and the Cenex Expo event.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Loughborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: Research and consultancy services for low-carbon transport and energy infrastructure projects, serving government bodies, local authorities, and private sector clients.
2. Government-Funded Research Projects: Participation in government programmes such as the CAM Pathfinder programme, Innovate UK projects, and other publicly funded feasibility studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cenex is a UK-based not-for-profit consultancy that delivers transport decarbonisation services, including transport consultancy, energy systems and infrastructure planning, and knowledge and enterprise support. It supports public and private sector clients with research, feasibility studies, and deployment of low emission vehicle and fuel cell technologies. The organisation also develops proprietary modelling tools to assess energy infrastructure and vehicle decarbonisation scenarios.

Product overview

Cenex is a not-for-profit, independent consultancy focused on lowering emissions through innovation in transport and energy infrastructure. The organization offers three main service pillars: Transport (fleet electrification advisory), Energy Systems & Infrastructure (EV charging infrastructure planning), and Knowledge & Enterprise (research and data services including the NEVIS platform). Cenex delivers projects supporting innovation and market development, and organizes the annual Cenex Expo event. The company also operates through affiliated organizations including Cenex Nederland Foundation and partners with government programmes like the CAM Pathfinder initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cenex Expo: Events and exhibitions brand that showcases low carbon and connected automated mobility technology, bringing together industry stakeholders to deliver net zero future.
• National EV Insights and Support (NEVIS)

Products and services

• Transport Consultancy Advisory and research services supporting the decarbonisation of transport, including feasibility studies and deployment of low emission vehicle solutions for public and private sector clients.
• Energy Systems and Infrastructure Planning and advisory services for low carbon energy systems, including infrastructure design for low emission vehicles and fuel cell technologies.
• Knowledge and Enterprise Services Programmes that share research insights, support innovation, and engage enterprises in low carbon and fuel cell technology adoption.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22.9% of UK households now within a four-minute walk of a near-home EV charger, up from 19.6% in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation (iC4DTI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Partnership for Project TACTIC, a six-month feasibility study exploring driverless autonomous freight services between Teesport and Teesside International Airport. Cenex leads economic analysis examining costs, revenue options and benefits of faster, more predictable freight flows.
• UK Government CAM Pathfinder ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenex participates in the CAM Pathfinder programme's Feasibility Studies 2 competition, part of the UK's £150m initiative to grow the connected and automated mobility industry estimated at £3.7bn.
• VauxhallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership on Electric Streets of Britain campaign studying on-street EV charging demand. Research found 22.9% of UK households now within four-minute walk of a charger, up from 19.6% in 2024.
• UK100minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch 'Powering Local EV Infrastructure: A Guide for Councils' showing councils using digital planning tools achieved 100% first-time LEVI funding success rate vs 37% average.
• UK Power Networks' DSOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in development of EV infrastructure guide for local councils, providing expertise on distribution system operator perspectives.
• Field DynamicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in development of EV infrastructure guide for local councils, providing planning and consultation expertise.
• Coventry City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dynacov project testing dynamic wireless charging technology on Kenilworth Road at the A45 junction, supporting UK's 2040 target to phase out non-zero-emission heavy goods vehicles.
• Coventry UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Dynacov dynamic wireless charging trial, providing research expertise and support.
• National Grid Electricity DistributioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure partner in Dynacov project, testing dynamic wireless charging technology for electric vehicles.
• Energy Saving TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of the £30 million depot charging scheme offering fleets up to 75% off charging infrastructure costs for zero-emission vehicles. Expected to support over 3,000 van and 200 HGV charge points.
• Government Grants Management ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministering body for the £30 million depot charging fund, funded by the Department for Transport.
• 3ti Energy HubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in 3ti V2X DC FastHub Demonstration project evaluating containerised V2X energy hubs for workplace, fleet and destination charging environments. Cenex provided modelling and analysis using EIGER tool.
• Turbo Power Systems (TPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in 3ti V2X DC FastHub Demonstration, contributing expertise in power systems technology.
• GridBeyondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in 3ti V2X DC FastHub Demonstration, providing energy management expertise.
• UTAC MillbrookcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemo site for 3ti V2X DC FastHub project, providing a representative mixed-use commercial setting with fleet, staff and prototype vehicle activity.
• Fusion ProcessingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAM Pathfinder project partner developing business cases for autonomous vehicle operations in strategic corridors.
• Oxa Autonomy LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAM Pathfinder project partner developing autonomous vehicle deployment business cases.
• Odysse LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAM Pathfinder project partner developing autonomous vehicle deployment business cases.
• Nissan Motor Manufacturing UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member in CAM Pathfinder programme developing autonomous freight corridors between Nissan facilities and ports.
• Wellcome Genome CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAM Pathfinder project partner developing business cases for autonomous vehicle operations.
• PA ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner alongside Energy Saving Trust in new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI) Support Service for organisations delivering England's EV charging network.
• Cenex Nederland FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Cenex family of organisations supporting delivery of low and zero emission mobility as well as circular economy across Europe.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TRL (Transport Research Laboratory): UK-based transport research and consultancy organisation providing evidence, testing, and advisory services to government and industry. Highly comparable to Cenex in mission, public-sector client base, and applied transport R&D.
• Ricardo: Global engineering and strategic consulting firm with dedicated low-carbon transport, energy infrastructure, and vehicle electrification practices. Comparable in product offerings (fleet electrification, EV infrastructure, modelling) and public/private client mix.
• Element Energy: Specialist low-carbon energy and transport consultancy (now part of ERM) advising on EV infrastructure, hydrogen, and decarbonisation strategy. Closely matches Cenex's niche focus on transport decarbonisation and government advisory work.
• Connected Places Catapult: UK government-backed innovation accelerator for transport, places, and built environment. Comparable in its UK public-sector mandate, focus on connected and automated mobility, and role running innovation programmes (similar to Cenex's CAM Pathfinder involvement).
• Energy Saving Trust: UK charity delivering energy-efficiency and low-carbon transport programmes for government. Directly comparable as a current Cenex co-delivery partner on the £30m depot charging scheme and the EVI Support Service, with a similar not-for-profit/charitable structure.

Broad incumbents

• WSP: Global professional services firm with a large transport, energy, and environment advisory practice. Competes with Cenex for UK public-sector advisory mandates but with a much broader portfolio and substantially larger headcount.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering, management, and development consultancy with significant UK transport and energy infrastructure advisory work. Competes for the same central/local government advisory mandates as Cenex, with broader service lines.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with strong UK presence in transport decarbonisation, EV infrastructure, and connected mobility. Overlaps with Cenex's service offerings but at substantially greater scale and global reach.
• AtkinsRéalis: Engineering and project management consultancy with a UK transport and nuclear/energy infrastructure practice. Competes for similar UK public-sector mandates and has a comparable EV infrastructure and net-zero advisory capability.
• PA Consulting: Global innovation and transformation consultancy with significant energy and mobility advisory work, and an existing Cenex co-delivery partner on the EVI Support Service for England. Competes in adjacent advisory work and brings substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CenexLCFC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cenex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cenex