A self-driving shuttle service is set to launch in Solihull, running a 7km route that will connect Birmingham International rail station, the NEC, and Birmingham Business Park.
This pilot project is part of the Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project. It aims to explore the role self-driving vehicles could play in future transport systems.
The pilot will deploy three fully electric autonomous shuttles built by New Zealand’s Ohmio. Each shuttle can carry up to 20 passengers and will use cameras and sensors to navigate traffic.
A human operator will remain onboard to take control if necessary and all journeys will be monitored in real-time from Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM) control centre.
Dean Zabrieszach, Ohmio Global CEO, said:This is a really exciting opportunity for Ohmio as we grow our business in the UK and Europe. We have been involved in numerous trial deployments across the world; however, in the SCALE project, it is evident that our consortium members are eager to progress towards a full-scale transportation service.
Autonomous electric shuttles like the Ohmio Lift have the capacity to fill a void in current transportation systems by providing first mile and last mile accessibility for our communities.
The SCALE project builds on previous self-driving vehicle trials in Solihull from 2021 and focuses on developing a deeper understanding of connected automated mobility (CAM) services.
The trial will assess the commercial viability of self-driving operations, passenger experience, and operational aspects like insurance and maintenance.
It is supported by a consortium led by Solihull Council, which includes Warwick and Coventry Universities, TfWM, NEC, Coventry City Council, and Direct Line Group.
Funding has been provided by the Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), with Solihull Council receiving 579,260 GBP for the project and to install roadside technology.
Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Planning, said:Connected Automated Mobility (CAM) technology has the potential to revolutionise the way we get around. We are excited to be leading the way, not just in Solihull, but regionally and across the country, in providing learning on CAM deployments in different setting and scenarios.
We’ve already carried out a series of successful pathfinder trials here in Solihull, and shown how it is possible to practically and safely start incorporating self-driving vehicles into key parts of our transport infrastructure. SCALE represents the next step in this learning and will help develop our understanding around how future commercial passenger services might operate. We’ve brought together a fantastic consortium of experts for this pilot and are already benefitting from the ability to share our relevant expertise and experience in the rapidly evolving CAM sector.
On-site testing for the self-driving shuttles will begin soon, with passenger services expected to start by the end of the year. The pilot is scheduled to run until March 2025.
