Driverless on-demand passenger transport is more likely to succeed in rural and outlying areas than areas of high demand, according to a new study.
Under the direction of the PTV Group, the German Government-funded ‘LEA (mini) bus’ research project ‘examined the prerequisites and deployment possibilities for automated and electrically powered (mini) buses in public transport’, looking at what is needed to move very limited tests of self-driving minibuses and shuttle vehicles to become regular options in public transportation.
An important component of the two-year study was also a virtual analysis of the various deployment possibilities for fully automated and connected vehicles. Using an actual transit model for the Stuttgart region created with PTV Visum, the researchers examined three different transit areas:
- A residential area at the edge of a large city with commuter rail connection
- A medium-sized city with core area and peripheral districts
- A rural community
Two scenarios apiece were played through in each of these areas in each case with fully automated and electric vehicles. One was a regular service with a timetable and fixed stops; the other was demand-oriented transport with minibuses without a schedule or fixed stops.
PTV said the simulation that took into account the real transport demand ‘was able to demonstrate that using self-driving vehicles in public transport, especially minibuses, opens up a multitude of new possibilities for designing more flexible offerings and organisational operation’.
‘In addition, it can significantly reduce operating costs under certain conditions as compared to current public transport.’
Professor Dr Christoph Walther, head of global research at PTV (pictured), said: ‘In particular, there is significant potential for driverless on-demand transport in rural areas where demand is weak, where there are few buses today. In the urban environment, outlying areas and times can be served well.
‘However, as soon as there is high demand and there are only limited possibilities for bundling trips, very large vehicle fleets are suddenly required, and these make operation inefficient.
'Regardless of whether large city or rural community, the key is always the actual conditions on site. That’s why simulations that demonstrate the possible effects of vehicle deployments are especially important tools.’
