The service will be operational from 2026 in the city centre and integrated into the city’s Horizon bus network and operated by shared mobility provider Keolis.
A French consortium will deploy a fully autonomous minibus service in downtown Châteauroux, the capital city of Indre in central France.
The Level 4 autonomous mobility service, known as Mach2, is a major step in the development of automated public transport in France and Europe.
Public transport integration
The service will be operational from 2026 in the city centre of Châteauroux and will be integrated into the city’s Horizon bus network, and operated by Keolis.
The consortium comprises the French mobility companies of Alstom, EasyMile, Equans, Keolis, Renault Group and StatInf. Each contributes its own area of expertise: Renault Group the robotised electric minibus platform; EasyMile the autonomous driving system; StatInf the validation of critical software elements; Equans the computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) system; Alstom the connected safety infrastructure and communication protocols; and Keolis the operation and maintenance of public transport service.
“Already a forerunner in 2001 with the introduction of free public transportation, the Châteauroux Métropole Agglomeration is proud to be the host territory of this new innovative service in France,” said Gil Avérous, mayor, president of Châteauroux Métropole.
“Integrating perfectly with our Horizon bus network provided by public transport operator, Keolis, these automated electric minibuses will strengthen the local mobility offer in downtown Châteauroux. This project, supported by national transport leaders, will be fully operational in our region by 2026.”
It is claimed the vehicle being developed will be significantly larger and faster than the autonomous shuttles deployed today. The partners said the project also addresses the complex issue of interaction with emergency vehicles and connection with traffic light infrastructures. The supervision concept will be rethought to allow a single supervisor to control a fleet of vehicles and guarantee the viability of the economic model for this new type of transport.
The project will demonstrate compliance with the strictest safety standards at the French and European levels. Conforming with public transport requirements, it will meet the demands of public and private players in terms of safety, passenger satisfaction and business development.
This project is supported by Châteauroux Métropole, the Indre department, the Ministry of the Interior and the PFA (Plateforme Automobile), as well as that of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and Bpifrance.
“Offering new carbon-free shared mobility services is firmly at the heart of our raison d’être,” said Annelise Avril, director of marketing, innovation, new mobility at shared mobility specialist Keolis. “We welcome the commitment of the Châteauroux metropolitan area to integrate this fleet of automated electric mini buses into its public transport network, offering passengers a complementary service and a unique travel experience. We are proud to be involved in this blueprint project, alongside our partners in autonomous public transport."
Benoit Perrin, general manager of EasyMile, added: “This project is much more than just a technological success. It is a crucial step in demonstrating the value of a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles in a city. By replacing on-board supervisors with remote supervision of multiple vehicles, we will demonstrate the positive economic impact of this type of service.
“Autonomous technology enables more efficient, accessible and less costly public transportation for communities. This project is a major acceleration in terms of performance and as the consortium coordinator, we are proud to unite the most influential players in the French mobility ecosystem.”
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Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 31.05.2023
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