Volvo and NTU to Trial Autonomous Electric Buses in Singapore

Gothenburg, Sweden (ots/PRNewswire) -

Volvo Buses and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in
Singapore have signed a cooperation agreement on a research and
development program for autonomous electric buses. The program is
part of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore's drive to create
new solutions for tomorrow's sustainable public transport.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/627270/Volvo_Logo.jpg )

(Photo:
http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/627271/Volvo_electric_buses.jpg )

For Volvo, this will be its first autonomous application in public
transportation and it has chosen NTU as its partner in this
endeavour. Volvo has already demonstrated the autonomous technology
in mining, quarry and refuse collection operations.

The 12-metre Volvo 7900 electric bus is already operating around
the world, but the buses to be deployed in Singapore will be equipped
with autonomous driving technologies. This include GPS and LIDAR
laser technology systems for charting, positioning and detecting
obstacles around the vehicle.

"We are seeing fast-growing interest in both autonomous and
electric vehicles in cities all over the world. Together with NTU,
one of the world's leading universities of technology, we now have
the possibility of testing various solutions under realistic
conditions in a major city that has high ambitions for its public
transport," says Håkan Agnevall, President Volvo Buses.

NTU President Professor Subra Suresh, said, "Industry-academic
connections are key in nurturing an environment which promotes
innovation, research excellence, and technological change for a
better tomorrow. NTU takes pride in its strong industry connections,
and this partnership with Volvo will pave the way for future mobility
solutions by developing and testing autonomous buses right here on
campus. These solutions will further strengthen Singapore's vision of
embracing autonomous vehicle technologies and enhance public
transportation."

One of the autonomous electric buses will be used on Singapore's
advanced new test facility for autonomous vehicles, CETRAN*. Here,
NTU's researchers will in a fenced-off area be able to test new
functionality and study how the bus interacts with other road-users
in various conditions. The second bus will be used for tests in the
bus depot in partnership with the operator SMRT. The aim is that
tomorrow's autonomous buses should be able to charge their batteries,
drive through the depots to the vehicle wash and park - entirely
autonomously.

The cooperative program between Volvo Buses and NTU is underway
and will initially last for two years. The jointly developed
autonomous electric buses will arrive into Singapore in the beginning
of 2019. Fast-charging stations based on the common OppCharge
interface will be supplied by ABB.

*Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous
Vehicles

Volvo Buses is one of the world's leading bus manufacturers, with
a strong focus on vehicles and systems for long-term sustainable
public transport. Volvo Buses is part of Volvo Group, one of the
world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction
machines as well as drive systems for marine and industrial
applications http://www.volvobuses.com

ots Originaltext: Volvo Bus Corporation
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
, please contact:
Helena Lind, Manager Media Relations, Volvo Bus Corporation
Phone: +46 (0)31-323 62 57

Nur Amin Shah, Corporate Communications
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Phone: +65 6790-4714

Original-Content von: Volvo Bus Corporation, übermittelt durch news aktuell