New Flyer and Robotic Research are developing automated buses capable of operating at the Society of Automotive Engineers Level 4 automation on a dedicated right-of-way in the Hartford, CT region. The project will demonstrate the deployment of three 40’ New Flyer Xcelsior Charge battery electric buses equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS) on the CTfastrak bus rapid transit corridor, a nine-mile dedicated facility for exclusive use by CT transit buses.
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is serving as project manager and technical consultant. CTE will also oversee data collection and reporting to the Federal Transit Administration and conduct analyses to determine the effects of the ADS on energy efficiency. IBI Group is supporting the project with connected vehicle infrastructure design and integration. This project will be the first to deploy automated transit buses in North America.
This project aims to accomplish three primary objectives:
1. Successfully demonstrate ADS technology on transit buses, with a focus on platooning and precision docking.
2. Collect and report relevant safety data regarding ADS-enabled bus performance, as well as data regarding driver and passenger acceptance of the technology.
3. Advance the development of ADS-integrated transit vehicles to accelerate the commercialization of the technology.
Moreover, the team expects that power load requirements from onboard ADS technology will be lower than the energy savings from increased efficiency through drive automation. These efficiencies will in turn mitigate range anxiety concerns and encourage more rapid adoption of battery electric buses.
All buses have completed final assembly at New Flyer’s facilities and are awaiting further ADS integration and testing. Once complete, the project team aims to demonstrate the vehicles for one year in simulated service operations.