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We identify and test new mobility concepts to serve the industry

We may not yet know how we will be travelling in the future. As the largest bus operator in public transport, it is our task to identify and test new mobility concepts to serve the industry. The SmartShuttle is a good example of such a concept. It provides answers to future mobility issues, highlights challenges and enables us to progress in cooperation with public authorities, policy makers and partners.  Such projects clearly only succeed based on strong partnerships, and can never be run alone.

SmartShuttle Sion

SmartShuttle Sion

What’s it all about?

Two autonomous buses run on a 3 kilometre long circuit between the train station and Sion city center.

Period

Summer 2016 – today

Partners

Mobility Lab Sion-Valais (City of Sion, Canton of Valais, HeS-So, EPFL, Swiss Post)

Goals of the project

To find out whether using autonomous shuttles in public spaces is viable from a technical and operational perspective and provides customers with added value.

Status

Active

Insights

Very high media interest, particularly in the initial phase.
Many visits, including from international technology groups.
High acceptance among Sion residents, the buses are now part of everyday life in the city.
Valuable points learnt for PostBus within future mobility.

Outlook

Project in Sion will finish at the end of 2020.
A further project is in the pipeline.

Contact

Martin Neubauer
Specialist in Self-Driving Vehicles
martin.neubauer@postbus.ch

SmartShuttle Uvrier

What’s it all about?

Since early April, residents and tourists have been able to book both SmartShuttles for their journeys via an app, over the phone or using a touch display system at Uvrier railway station. This project is being organized as a six-month trial. The self-driving vehicles will not run on a pre-determined route in Uvrier but instead chauffeur the customers from one of the 17 virtual stops to another on demand.

Period

April 2021 to October 2021

Partners

Canton of Valais, Mobility Lab Sion, EPFL, HES-SO, Animatico, Siemens, Avenue, City of Sion, Municipality of St. Léonard, Bestmile, Hotel des Vignes, Pura Worka, Region Alps

Goals of the project

The long-term goal of the SmartShuttle project in Uvrier is the complete integration of self-driving shuttles into the public transport system. PostBus essentially sees self-driving shuttles as a last-mile application which supplements the existing public transport system, while also providing on-demand mobility.

Status

Active

Insights

-

Outlook

The Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility (SAAM) was founded with the aim of coordinating relevant projects in Switzerland and ensuring effective knowledge transfer. The goal is to make Switzerland a pioneer in efficient and autonomous mobility.

Contact

Martin Neubauer
Specialist in Self-Driving Vehicles
martin.neubauer@postbus.ch