Driverless bus being tested at Zealand University Hospital, Køge
The facts
- Service speed up to 25 km/h.
- 2400 kg, L: 475 cm, H: 265 cm, W: 211 cm.
- 11 seats and 4 standing places.
- The buses are 100% electrically powered and can travel approx. 8 hours (100 km) on a full charge of 4 hours.
- Can see 360 degrees and react to objects within a 60 metre radius.
- The buses will be free to use during the trial period.
- The bus is from the French company Navya.
- Atkins has been chosen as the assessor, the independent safety advisor, for the project.
Driverless buses open up new mobility solutions for citizens: They are flexible, can run around the clock, are safe in traffic and can therefore provide more mobility for citizens. This is why Movia, Region Zealand, the Capital Region of Denmark, the Capital Region and Metroselskabet have entered into a collaboration and initiated a series of trials with driverless technology at Zealand University Hospital, Køge and Slagelse Hospitals. The trials will provide experience and knowledge about how citizens experience and use the driverless technology.
In April, Movia entered into an agreement with Autonomous Mobility to test driverless minibuses, the first of which will start operating in the lobby at Zealand University Hospital, Køge (SUH) from 28 May.
The trial is divided into three phases. The first phase, starting 28 May, will test a driverless bus in the lobby of Zealand University Hospital, Køge. The next step, which is expected to start in early 2019, is to let the bus drive between departments at Slagelse Hospital. In the final phase, the bus will run between Ølby St. and Zealand University Hospital, Køge. This is expected to happen from summer 2019.
‘This is an important first step towards a new technology. I'm proud that Region Zealand is part of this collaboration, which will initially be tested both at SUH Køge and then Slagelse Hospital. What will be exciting is how we can use driverless technology to develop mobility in Region Zealand in the future,’ says Heino Knudsen, Chairman of the Regional Council in Region Zealand.
Movia is looking forward to gathering experience and knowledge from the trial:
‘Movia is very pleased that we are now beginning to gather knowledge about how driverless technology can be used to provide good transport solutions for citizens. The trial at Zealand University Hospital, Køge is the first in the strategic collaboration and is a good step towards the ambition of being able to use driverless technology on a larger scale,’ says Dorthe Nøhr Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Movia.
Citizens see public transport as part of core welfare. That's why it's crucial that we are proactive in utilising and testing new technologies that can provide more mobility for the same money.
The Metroselskabet, which has extensive experience with driverless metro operation and safety, sees the driverless buses as an important part of the overall work to create an attractive, coherent transport system.
‘It's important that we have fast and good connections that link the Metro, bus and train. The buses can bring people to the stations so that we can eventually offer passengers a complete door-to-door journey. ‘We are very keen to create new and better transport options and connect all of Zealand. That's why we see great potential in spreading driverless technology to new areas,’ says Henrik Plougmann Olsen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Metroselskabet and The Creater Copenhagen Light Rail.
Peter Sorgenfrei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Autonomous Mobility, says:
‘With self-driving technology, the region will be able to transport more citizens around more easily. In many ways, this is something completely new, both for the patients and guests who will use the bus and for us who are behind it. There will be a lot to learn and we are excited. We are now very close to welcoming the first Danes in a self-driving bus. The pilot project is ideal because we can show how much value autonomous solutions can create in several different scenarios.’
Invitation to the opening event
Movia, Region Zealand, the Capital Region of Denmark, the Metroselskabet and Autonomous Mobility will host an opening event at Zealand University Hospital, Køge on 28 May from 13:00-14:00, where citizens and press will have the opportunity to help inaugurate the driverless bus.
The press can register for the opening event at lit@moviatrafik.dk. The opening event will include factual information about the bus and the three phases of the trial.
Strategic collaboration to promote driverless buses in public transport
Movia, Region Zealand, the Capital Region of Denmark and Metroselskabet have entered into a strategic collaboration to push and shape the development of driverless technology in Denmark.
The first project to be realised in this collaboration is the trial with driverless buses at Zealand University Hospital Køge and Slagelse Hospital.
The parties have come together in the strategic collaboration because they each have different roles and competences. The regions are responsible for transport to and from stations and for patient transport internally and to and from the hospitals. Metroselskabet has expertise in fully automated operation and safety with driverless technologies, and Movia is responsible for operations with driverless technology and has extensive experience with demand-controlled public transport.