Singapore tests first green driverless vehicle
Published: Aug 16, 2013 11:48 AM | Updated: Aug 16, 2013 11:50 AM
Singapore’s first clean and green driverless shuttle transportation system will soon see passengers shuttling between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and JTC Corporation’s (JTC) CleanTech Park.
Singapore’s first clean and green driverless shuttle transportation system will soon see passengers shuttling between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and JTC Corporation’s (JTC) CleanTech Park.
In a partnership between NTU, JTC and Induct Technologies, and supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), an autonomous electric shuttle manufactured by Induct is expected to ply the two kilometre route providing a safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly alternative mode of transportation.
The two-year collaboration will see the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) test and optimise Induct’s electric shuttle named Navia and enable it to intermingle safely with traffic in Singapore.
ERI@N and Induct will also work to improve and enhance electric vehicle battery reliability and charging speeds, maximising the efficiency of Navia which can carry eight passengers and has a maximum speed of 20.1kph.
As part of NTU’s drive to be at the forefront of electromobility research, the partnership will also see the development and testing of various new charging technologies such as wireless induction and new super capacitors for electric vehicles.
Software and intelligence systems will also be programmed for planned operation within pre-defined route operating between JTC’s CleanTech One building and the NTU Yunnan Garden campus.
In a joint statement, they said this test-bed is the first of its kind in the region and could pave the way for the integration of autonomous vehicles in Singapore’s transport system to alleviate the ‘first mile, last mile’ transport problem (the first and final legs of a journey, the typical potential bottlenecks in a transportation system) faced by urban cities.
Critical for future city transportation
Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, executive director of ERI@N, said the Navia platform brings together two state-of-the-art concepts critical for future transportation in urban cities.
He said both concepts of a driverless transport and an efficient electric transport are at the forefront of research for personal transportation, last-mile transportation, and for logistics applications in leading automotive companies around the world.
“Leveraging NTU’s expertise in engineering and clean energy, we are confident that our partnership with Induct will see us explore breakthroughs in autonomous driving, wireless fast charging, and advanced battery technologies for sustainable transportation solutions.”
Meanwhile, Induct chief executive officer Pierre Lefevre said: “The synergies between industry in JTC’s CleanTech Park and academia in NTU present a unique opportunity for Induct, both from a test bedding and power management expertise perspective.
“The planned route between JTC’s CleanTech One and the NTU campus represents a real world scenario of shuttling passengers within a short range, with varying topography and pre-defined routes.”
He said Induct was proud to be given the opportunity to set up its Asian office in JTC’s newly opened CleanTech One and the company strongly believed that Singapore is the ideal location for its technological and economic development.
- Bernama
In a partnership between NTU, JTC and Induct Technologies, and supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), an autonomous electric shuttle manufactured by Induct is expected to ply the two kilometre route providing a safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly alternative mode of transportation.
The two-year collaboration will see the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) test and optimise Induct’s electric shuttle named Navia and enable it to intermingle safely with traffic in Singapore.
ERI@N and Induct will also work to improve and enhance electric vehicle battery reliability and charging speeds, maximising the efficiency of Navia which can carry eight passengers and has a maximum speed of 20.1kph.
As part of NTU’s drive to be at the forefront of electromobility research, the partnership will also see the development and testing of various new charging technologies such as wireless induction and new super capacitors for electric vehicles.
Software and intelligence systems will also be programmed for planned operation within pre-defined route operating between JTC’s CleanTech One building and the NTU Yunnan Garden campus.
In a joint statement, they said this test-bed is the first of its kind in the region and could pave the way for the integration of autonomous vehicles in Singapore’s transport system to alleviate the ‘first mile, last mile’ transport problem (the first and final legs of a journey, the typical potential bottlenecks in a transportation system) faced by urban cities.
Critical for future city transportation
Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, executive director of ERI@N, said the Navia platform brings together two state-of-the-art concepts critical for future transportation in urban cities.
He said both concepts of a driverless transport and an efficient electric transport are at the forefront of research for personal transportation, last-mile transportation, and for logistics applications in leading automotive companies around the world.
“Leveraging NTU’s expertise in engineering and clean energy, we are confident that our partnership with Induct will see us explore breakthroughs in autonomous driving, wireless fast charging, and advanced battery technologies for sustainable transportation solutions.”
Meanwhile, Induct chief executive officer Pierre Lefevre said: “The synergies between industry in JTC’s CleanTech Park and academia in NTU present a unique opportunity for Induct, both from a test bedding and power management expertise perspective.
“The planned route between JTC’s CleanTech One and the NTU campus represents a real world scenario of shuttling passengers within a short range, with varying topography and pre-defined routes.”
He said Induct was proud to be given the opportunity to set up its Asian office in JTC’s newly opened CleanTech One and the company strongly believed that Singapore is the ideal location for its technological and economic development.
- Bernama
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