Keolis begins autonomous shuttle trial in Gothenburg

The electric shuttles are built to operate in all weathers.

Transport operator Keolis has begun testing autonomous electric vehicles in the city of Gothenburg on behalf of local public transport authority Västtrafik. 

The service, which is integrated in the public transport network, will serve industrial and residential sites for a four-and-a-half-month period, according to Keolis.

Two autonomous electric shuttles made by Navya will operate during office hours from Monday to Friday. They will travel on a fixed 1.8 km route serving the Lindholmen Industrial and Science park – a 4km² former shipyard that now features offices, residential and university buildings and parking lots.

Keolis says bus passengers can use the service to connect with existing bus lines and track shuttle schedules in their travel app or on the city website. As the legislation requires, a safety operator will be present in the vehicle at all times.

The shuttles have a maximum speed of 20 km/h and can carry up to eight passengers. Charging takes five hours, and the vehicles can run for up to seven hours on one charge, depending on weather conditions.

Designed to operate in conditions including sub-zero temperatures and snow, Keolis claims this new autonomous electric shuttle service is the city’s most advanced to date and is integrated into Sweden’s public transport network.

“We are delighted to step up our decade-long collaboration with Västtrafik and offer a new mobility solution to Gothenburg residents and visitors with this innovative, sustainable, flexible mode of transportation,” said Bernard Tabary, CEO International Keolis Group.

Keolis began testing autonomous electric shuttles in 2016 in Lyon, France. Since then, it has introduced services in more French cities including Paris, Rennes and Lille, as well as in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Monaco, Belgium and Sweden.

In 2020, the company teamed up with partners in Sweden to put Stockholm’s first autonomous electric vehicle through its paces, using 5G technology for remote control and supervision. Keolis also partnered with Volvo in 2019 to develop and demonstrate a 12-metre-long electric bus, which was parked, washed and recharged autonomously at the Keolis depot in Gothenburg.