Public road demonstration tests of autonomous driving EV buses conducted at hot spring resort, including first nighttime operation - Verifying safety measures and economic ripple effects ahead of social implementation -

Following on from last year, four companies - Fukuyama Consultant Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of FC Holdings Co., Ltd., Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of ID&E Holdings Co., Ltd., Macnica- will be conducting a public road demonstration experiment of an autonomous driving vehicle (level 2 autonomous driving) in collaboration with Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture, through co-creation with the local community, to verify safety measures and economic ripple effects as the final step toward societal implementation.

A joint venture comprised of Fukuyama Consultant Co., Ltd., Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., and KCS Corporation has been commissioned by Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture to manage the "Ureshino City Future Technology Regional Implementation Project," which was selected as a Future Technology Social Implementation Project by the Cabinet Office, starting in fiscal year 2021. Under the theme of "mobility services to support visitor mobility," the joint venture is carrying out the project to implement an autonomous driving EV bus ^*1 provided by Macnica in the region as a "symbol of regional co-creation" for future tourism urban development.

In fiscal year 2023, we conducted the first public road demonstration experiment of an autonomous driving EV bus in Saga Prefecture, utilizing a remote monitoring system ^*2 to identify operational issues and conduct questionnaire surveys to understand social acceptability, etc.
In FY2024, we will conduct demonstration experiments looking at the service format and business model when implemented in society, while finding solutions through dialogue and co-creation with the local community to the issues identified in the FY2023 experiments, and will verify user needs, the necessity of nighttime operation, safety measures, profitability, economic ripple effects, etc. In addition, based on the results of this year, we will proceed with concretizing the business scheme and establishing the management system with the aim of realizing social implementation in FY2025.

autonomous driving EV bus in operation Image of driving environment during nighttime operation

<Details of the demonstration experiment>
Please visit the Ureshino City website.
https://www.city.ureshino.lg.jp/shisei/keikaku/_28638/_30135.html
 
[Outline of this demonstration experiment]
■ Operation period: 20 days between Saturday, October 5th and Monday, October 28th, 2024
*No service on October 16th (Wed), 17th (Thu), 23rd (Wed), and 24th (Thu)
■ Operating hours: 9:00 to 16:00 (6 flights a day)
*During the operation period, there will be two nighttime flights on Fridays and Saturdays (except for Saturday, October 5th)
■ autonomous driving vehicles: autonomous driving electric bus Navya ARMA
■ autonomous driving level: Driving at autonomous driving level 2
■ Route: A circular route between Ureshino Onsen Station and the hot spring town

■How to board: Board and disembark at designated bus stops, just like regular route buses (no reservations required)
*The bus is limited to eight passengers, so you may not be able to board if the bus is full.
■Operating schedule: During the operating period, the service will operate during the following times.

*1: autonomous driving electric bus Navya ARMA
ARMA is an autonomous driving shuttle bus equipped with an autonomous driving EV system. It is an EV (electric vehicle) and can run autonomously for about 9 hours (100 km) on a single charge.

Overall length: 4,750mm
Height: 2,650mm
Overall width: 2,110mm
Weight: 2,400 kg
Total vehicle weight: 3,450kg
Passenger capacity: 15 (11 seated, 4 standing)
*During the demonstration experiment, the vehicle will be limited to eight seated passengers (excluding one driver) to ensure safety.
Power source: Electric motor
Maximum speed: 18km/h (average speed during operation is about 10km/h)
autonomous driving level: Level 3 equivalent
*During the demonstration experiment, driving will be at Level 2
Other: In the event of an emergency, the driver will manually intervene

The autonomous driving EV buses used in this demonstration experiment will be provided by the "autonomous driving Demonstration Experiment Support Service Program" jointly established by Macnica, Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., and Fuyo Auto Lease Co., Ltd. For details, please refer to the following URL.

https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/maas/news/2021/136501/

*2: everfleet (Macnica remote monitoring system)

In order to put autonomous driving into practical use, it is necessary to remotely monitor the passengers inside the vehicle and the surroundings of the vehicle. everfleet integrates and centrally visualizes vehicle data such as vehicle speed, steering, and remaining battery power in addition to mobility location information and camera images inside and outside the vehicle, and external data that is coordinated with traffic infrastructure such as traffic lights. It is also possible to collaborate with This makes it possible to grasp the operation status from a remote location in real time and operate autonomous driving mobility safely and securely. Furthermore, the system can simultaneously manage a wide variety of mobility vehicles in multiple regions and automatically detect and notify abnormalities during operation, allowing a single remote operator to efficiently manage the operation of autonomous driving mobility vehicles. By doing so, we can realize labor-saving operations and contribute to improving transportation profitability.

*Company names and product names mentioned in this text are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macnica and each company.
*The information published in the news release (including product price, specifications, etc.) is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.

<Contact for inquiries regarding this matter>
Macnica Smart City & Mobility Division
TEL: 045-470-9118
MAIL: auto-solution@macnica.co.jp

<Contact for media inquiries>
Macnica://www.macnica.co.jp
Public Relations Office: Miyahara Email: macpr@macnica.co.jp
Macnica 1st Building, 1-6-3 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 222-8561