Wolfurt plans autonomous electric bus service

Wolfurt is set to introduce a fully automated electric bus on a regular route, ORF reported Thursday. ÖBB presented the vehicle in Vienna before beginning a pilot operation at the European Forum Alpbach in Tyrol.

The bus will first run on a defined route during the forum, which takes place from August 24 to September 4. After the initial tests in Tyrol, the autonomous electric bus is planned to connect businesses at the Campus Wolfurt industrial park with the S-Bahn.

The vehicle is an all-electric Autonomous e-CENTRO C made by Turkish manufacturer Otokar. The model is already operating on regular services in Madrid.

Safety driver still required

The bus uses SAE Level 4 technology, meaning it can generally take over the driving task independently within a clearly defined operating area. Austrian law nevertheless requires a trained safety driver to remain on board.

The vehicle can carry up to 32 passengers and has a barrier-free low-floor entrance with a wheelchair ramp.

ÖBB chief executive Andreas Matthä said autonomous driving was no longer a vision of the future but a technology with significant potential for public transport. ÖBB and ÖBB Postbus wanted to gain early experience and assess how autonomous mobility could complement and strengthen public transport, he said.

Transport Minister Peter Hanke of the Social Democratic Party said automated mobility was an important component of a more modern, safer and more efficient transport system. He also described it as a major opportunity for Austria as a business and innovation location, particularly in public transport.