Autonomous shuttle bus hits the road in Quebec for the next 12 months
Devin Jones
GeneralThe NAVYA shuttle will carry passengers for eight months of it’s pilot run as the first long-term demonstration project of a 100% electric autonomous shuttle on public roads in Canada.
This summer a new pilot project was announced that saw the deployment of autonomous shuttle buses driving along a 2 km stretch of road in Candiac Quebec for the next 12 months.
As a joint-partnership between Keolis Canada, the City of Candiac and manufacturer NAVYA amongst others, the NAVYA Autonom Shuttle will carry passengers for eight months of it’s pilot run as the first long-term demonstration project of a 100% electric autonomous shuttle on public roads in Canada.
“Keolis Canada has strong expertise in developing mobility solutions tailored to different communities and improving passengers’ travel options and habits,” says Marie Hélène Cloutier, Vice-President of Marketing & Sales for Keolis Canada.The autonomous electric shuttle complements Candiac’s existing transportation offer and is yet another step towards integrated intermodal transportation services,” she said.
Operating between mixed traffic situations, the NAVYA will co-exist along traditional transportation services, and will run during the winter without passengers as a test to the feasibility of such a vehicle during cold weather.
Kelios received $350,000 in funding from the Quebec government, specifically the Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation “as part of the measure to support demonstration projects in the action plan in favor of the industry of ground transportation and sustainable mobility.”
The shuttle will operate between the exo park-and-ride lot, Candiac bus terminal and the intersection of Marie-Victorin through Montcalm North Boulevards making several stops along the way, including City Hall, retirement housing and local businesses. NAVYA will also allow employees in the area to reach their workplaces from the bus terminal. Additionally, the CAA-Québec Foundation for road safety is evaluating the possibility of conducting an independent study on road safety and social acceptance in this project.
“NAVYA is proud to work with our partner Keolis Canada and the City of Candiac on this important milestone in Canadian transportation,” says NAVYA’s CEO, Christophe Sapet. “This project embodies NAVYA’s vision of autonomous shared mobility and fills an important transportation need for which our shuttles were designed. We commend Québec for its collaborative efforts to complement existing transportation options,” he says.
The NAVYA shuttle has capacity for 15 passengers and reaches an operating speed of approximately 25 km/hr and varies between public and private transport across large industrial spaces.
