- Title: No one at the wheel - Taiwan tests driverless electric bus
- Date: 13th July 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 34-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER, LIU CHOU-WU, SAYING: "Altogether, the route they chose today is slightly steep. But since the speed is not that fast, so it doesn't feel too uncomfortable. Because the travelling speed is not so fast, I feel quite safe." BUTTONS TO OPEN AND SHUT BUS DOORS EXTERIOR OF DRIVERLESS BUS INTERIOR OF DRIVERLESS BUS 2D LIDAR 3D LIDAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) 7STARLAKE CO. CHIEF, MARTIN TING, SAYING: "So the position in the future would be three major markets. Firstly, in the public transportation systems could be the first mile or last mile connection with the bus, or with the metro. And secondly, it can be widely used in the campus. Let me give you an example, in the building A to the building B, using our bus can connect the students. And the third one, it also can be used in the shopping mall or any kind of terminal." MARTIN TING SPEAKING IN FRONT OF DRIVERLESS BUS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 7STARLAKE CO. CHIEF, MARTIN TING, SAYING: "I believe in the end of this year, and also in 2018, you will see our vehicles in many university campuses, and also in many theme parks." DRIVERLESS BUS DRIVING
- Embargoed: 27th July 2017 11:30
- Keywords: driverless lidar bus electric EZ10
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA0036PJWNYZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The boxy, electric bus bouncing along a road in a leafy university campus in Taiwan is fitted with special high-tech sensors, but it has no driver at the wheel.
When a student steps out in front of the bus it slows down until she passes. Then it picks up pace again.
On its short, carefully planned route on a clear day, the EZ10, manufactured by French autonomous driving company EasyMile SAS, easily completed its test circuit.
"The position in the future would be three major markets," said Martin Ting, chief of Taiwan-based 7Starlake Co, which is aiming to bring the compact driverless bus to Taiwan and set up an assembly site on the island. "Firstly, in public transport systems it could be the first or last mile connection with the bus or metro. Secondly, it can be widely used on campus. Third it can be used in shopping malls or any kind of terminal."
Unexpected complications, like having to make a detour if something strays into its path, or how it would perform in rain or at night, still have to be incorporated into the feasibility tests.
But the aim is to make the EZ10, which can carry up to a dozen passengers, operational at several locations later next year, Ting said, with the initial target being campuses and public transport links.
Twenty-three-year-old student passenger Lo Hsien-Hao said he felt safe on board during a test ride of the French-made EZ10 driverless electric bus.
"The speed is pretty slow, so I don't really feel endangered. It's quite comfortable," he said.
Liu Chou-Wu, agreed. "Since the speed is not that fast, it doesn't feel too uncomfortable," he said.
Taipei isn't the first city to introduce such trials with the EZ-10. Similar trials have taken place in San Ramon, California and Paris. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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