Alsa and UAM launch Spain's first autonomous university bus

Madrid, January 13, 2020. The Cantoblanco campus of the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) will be the first in Spain to have a regular driverless bus service, as part of a pilot initiative to develop R&D&I projects related to autonomous driving. The EZ10 vehicle, 100% electric and autonomous, will begin service in February as part of a pioneering project also involving the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium, the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), and the transport company ALSA.

 

The EZ10 can carry up to 12 passengers and will travel a 3.8-kilometer route on the Cantoblanco Campus, a space where nearly 30,000 people and more than 6,000 vehicles circulate daily. All stops will be accessible according to the accessibility criteria of the Regional Transport Consortium, and to facilitate its circulation, a lane has been marked to indicate its route, in addition to installing traffic signs that warn that these are preferential routes for the autonomous bus.

 

The vehicle, which has already begun testing, will be accompanied by an assistant who will monitor its operation in the event of possible incidents, such as someone parking in a double row on a preferential road.

The project was presented today at an event held on the Campus of the Autonomous University of Madrid, with the participation of the rector Rafael Garesse; the vice president, Minister of Sports and Transparency and spokesperson for the Government of the Community of Madrid, Ignacio Aguado; the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Infrastructure, Ángel Garrido; the Director General of Traffic, Pere Navarro; and the CEO of ALSA, Francisco Iglesias.

Rector Rafael Garesse highlighted during the presentation that "research and innovation are two essential pillars of the UAM since its foundation and, therefore, we are proud to be part of a pioneering initiative, which will allow the development of R&D&I projects that contribute to the development of automated transport." "As a university, and especially as a public university, an essential part of our work is to contribute to the development of our society. And this is, ultimately, the objective of this ambitious project," added Garesse.

The Minister of Transport of the Community of Madrid, Ángel Garrido, pointed out that "this autonomous vehicle is much more than a technological curiosity, it is the confirmation that we are witnessing the birth of a new mobility based on the electric, shared and autonomous vehicle, in which the principles of environmental sustainability and safety will be priorities." In addition, he pointed out that this pilot project is an opportunity to consolidate and improve the positioning of the Community of Madrid and Spain as a leading country in terms of safe and sustainable mobility.

For his part, the Director General of Traffic, Pere Navarro, stressed that the participation of the DGT in this pilot project is essential to continue advancing in a connected, safer and more sustainable mobility. In addition, he added that "this project is an example of how public-private collaboration is essential to advance in the common goal and responsibility that we all have to reduce the number of accidents and traffic victims."

The company ALSA includes this project within its strategy to offer innovative and increasingly sustainable mobility solutions. ALSA will be responsible for the implementation and design of the service and for ensuring its correct operation and maintenance. For this, it has the advice of the specialized consultant Novadays and the manufacturer of the latest generation autonomous vehicle Easy Mile. Francisco Iglesias, CEO of the company, expressed his satisfaction for "participating in this pilot project that fits perfectly into our positioning as an operator of sustainable, multimodal and connected mobility."