Skip advert
Advertisement

F1 aerodynamic tech set to improve UK supermarkets

Thanks to the world of Formula 1, supermarket fridges will be fitted with energy-saving aerofoils that will solve 'cold aisle syndrome'

F1 supermarket

We're used to hearing that technology from Formula 1 will eventually make it into the cars we drive to the supermarket every week - but now it also appears that the aerodynamic research from the sport will soon appear inside the store as well.

Williams Advanced Engineering specialises in turning F1 tech into a consumer reality, and has teamed up with a company called Aerofoil Energy to create a new device that redirects the cold air in supermarket fridges to stop it from leaking out into the aisles.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It attaches to each shelf inside the fridge, redirecting the cold air that is pumped in from above and pushing it back inside.

Not only does this mean that shoppers can be comfortable wearing shorts down the milk aisle, it also saves a lot of wasted energy, with the standard supermarket fridge spilling lots of cold air out into the store.

Sainsbury's has been testing the new type of fridge and has seen a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption - and with that brand using around one per cent of the UK's total energy, that's good news for everyone in Britain.

Craig Wilson, Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering, said: “The collaboration with Aerofoil Energy is a perfect example of how Formula One innovations can have a tangible benefit to ordinary people and the environment. This technology has global potential and the savings in operational costs and emissions are extremely promising.”

Motorists in the UK are choosing greener cars - find out which are rated highest in the 2015 Driver Power results.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

High prices from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and others have opened the door to Chinese brands
Opinion - Chinese brands

High prices from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and others have opened the door to Chinese brands

China has become the third best-selling car-producing country in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s only a matter of time before it passes Japan …
Opinion
19 Oct 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Superb Estate iV PHEV can do it all for only £235 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front full width image

Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Superb Estate iV PHEV can do it all for only £235 a month

Our Deal of the Day for Sunday 19 October is an award-winning family wagon at a price that’s very difficult to ignore
News
19 Oct 2025
Are cars getting too big for the road? Deep dive on ‘carspreading’, SUVs and road safety
Are cars too big header

Are cars getting too big for the road? Deep dive on ‘carspreading’, SUVs and road safety

We explore why cars are getting bigger and heavier, plus the effect this has on motorists and other road users
Features
19 Oct 2025