“eVan” has been on the road in the south of Linz for a week: a public bus for six passengers that many passers-by give a skeptical look when it drives by. This is less due to the striking design of the bumper and more to the driver, who almost never has his hands on the steering wheel. It could be the case, says Ralph Neuhauser, that “people look at me puzzled.”
Neuhauser is one of two security officers who can intervene if something unforeseen happens. Because “eVan” is an almost completely autonomous bus. In technical jargon, it is a “Level 4 vehicle” – where the “4” refers to the development stage in which autonomous driving is currently in this country. “Level 5 would be completely autonomous driving, without a safety driver,” says project manager Hannes Watzinger from Digitrans. However, it will be many years before this happens – partly because snow and rain pose serious problems for the sensors.
According to Michael Nikowitz from the Intelligent Driving Department at the Ministry of Transport, the project in the south of Linz is definitely unique in Austria, even if there are also tests with autonomous driving elsewhere.
Rural structure
The south of Linz, specifically this route, was chosen for several reasons: On the one hand, Pichling offers a rural structure – in which autonomous driving will play a major role in the future – and on the other hand, the business park is poorly connected to a public transport system. And thirdly, there are a lot of companies and employees here who are participating in the project, promoting it and testing it.
Linz city councilor Michael Raml (FP), who came to the presentation of “eVan” on behalf of Günther Steinkellner, State Mobility Councilor, spoke of the problem of the “last mile”, which makes it difficult for many commuters to switch to public transport, as this is often the case not open to the public. “eVan” could remedy this – especially to connect rural areas. But autonomous driving is not only a key in public transport in rural areas, as Linz City Councilor for Transport Martin Hajart (VP) says: “With the right locations and optimized user-friendliness of the app and the vehicle, it can also find its way into the city .” But he also points to the still unresolved snow problem.
From the train station to SolarCity
“eVan” is currently connecting Pichling train station with SolarCity – and in the process opens up the business park. There is no timetable – and this is the next point that will be tested: “eVan” is ordered by its passengers via app – i.e. “on demand”. If he receives several “calls” at the same time, he uses an algorithm to calculate the optimal route. It is said that in the future no one should have to wait longer than ten minutes for “eVan”.
The pilot project has been running for a year and is scheduled to last two and a half years – the total cost is 700,000 euros. After the two-month test in Pichling – which is free for passengers, by the way – an evaluation will take place, and test phase two will start in spring next year. This time in Asten, where the business park currently under construction will be connected to Asten train station.
Safety driver Ralph Neuhauser draws a positive conclusion after the first week: “If I had to intervene, it was not because of ‘eVan’, but because other road users made driving mistakes.” In addition to him as a safety driver, “eVan” and its passengers are also insured.
