Background of the demonstration experiment

Kaga City is facing a driver shortage due to population decline and aging. A demonstration experiment will be conducted for seven days from April 17 to 23, 2024 to see whether autonomous driving technology can be used to address this issue, or whether autonomous driving buses can be introduced in the future. 

Details of the demonstration experiment

<overview>
Dates: 7days from Wednesday, April 17thtoTuesday,April23rd,2024 
Vehicle used: autonomous driving electric bus "EVO" (manufactured by Navya Mobility)
Capacity: 15 people
Number of occupants during demonstration experiment: 10 (8 passengers + 1 operator (safety driver) and 1 security officer)
Maximum speed: less than 20km/h
Size: Length 4,780mm, height 2,100mm, width 2,670mm 

The "EVO" is an EV (electric vehicle) with a maximum speed of 20km/h, and is a vehicle without a steering wheel, accelerator, or brake pedal. It is an autonomous driving EV bus that can autonomously drive along a set route while checking the safety of the vehicle using on-board sensors. 

 In this demonstration experiment, the train ran on the section connecting Aeon Kaganosato store, Kaga Onsen Station, and Yamashiro Onsen Soyu.

There are six trips each on the route from the departure point (AEON Kaganosato store) to the intermediate destination.
*The number of flights and times may change depending on the operation schedule and travel time.

[autonomous driving bus operation schedule] 
1st bus10:00- 10:50 via Yamashiro Onsen 
2nd bus11:00-11:35 via Kaga Onsen Station 
3rd bus11:45- 12:35 via Yamashiro Onsen 
4th bus13:15- 13:50 via Kaga Onsen Station 
5th bus14:00- 14:50 via Yamashiro Onsen 
6th bus 15:00-15:35 via Kaga Onsen Station 
7th bus 15:45-16:35 via Yamashiro Onsen Soyu 

I drove the EVO for2km from Kaga Onsen Station to Aeon Kaganosato store, and then 3km from Aeon Kaganosato store to Yamashiro Onsen Soyu, totalling 5km one way, or 10km round trip. 

This will be the world's longest demonstration experiment in which the EVO​ ​will be driven 10 kilometers on public roads. 

Demonstration experiment

The first day of the demonstration experiment was Wednesday, April 17th.The "EVO" arrived in a corner of the parking lot of the Aeon Kaganosato store.Mayor Miyamoto of Kaga City Including Many stakeholdersand reporters gathered was.The staff explained what kind of vehicle it was and what route it would be driven on, and then the test drive began.tv setorNewspapersbutVisit for an interview, Realizing the high level of attention It has become something that we do. 

The "EVO" that left the Aeon Kaganosato store arrived at Yamashiro Onsen Soyu, where a press conference was held by Mayor Miyamoto Riku, who was taking a test drive. 

Regarding his impressions of the test drive, Mayor Miyamoto said, "It was more comfortable than I expected. As the population decline accelerates, I think that automated and autonomous public transportation will eventually become essential. There are still many challenges to overcome before this can be put into practical use, but I hope that technological innovation will continue and that it will become a support for public transportation in rural areas." 

During the demonstration experiment, many people took test drives even on weekdays, but on weekends in particular, many flights were fully booked​. On Saturday the 20th, the weather was fine, and the vehiclewas operated in a very busy traffic environment. On Sunday the 21st, there was light rain and clouds, sothere were one or two empty seats on some flights, butthere were no major disruptions or problems on both days, and all flights were able to operate smoothly. 

​The demographic of customers who took part in the test drives was very diverse, ranging from preschoolers to elderly people. 

The most common reason for taking a test drive was that they found out about it through the Kaga City website or a circular."EVO"Some people saw the car on the road and requested a test drive. High level of public interest This was apparent. 

Test drive impressions

We asked those who test drove it for their impressions. 

First, when we asked test-drivers about their impressions before riding the autonomous driving bus, many of them said "safe," "somewhat safe," or "somewhat anxious." After that, when we asked about their impressions after riding, the number of people who said "safe" or "somewhat safe" increased. After actually riding the bus, many people gave positive feedback, saying "I felt at ease" and "my anxiety turned to peace of mind." 

Next, we asked about the appearance of the "EVO" and the atmosphere inside the car. Most of the opinions were "good" or "fairly good," but there were also some opinions that "the seats are narrow." It seems that in the future, it will be necessary to consider improvements such as changing the luggage storage space. 

On the other hand, we also asked about the ride comfort during the ride, and although many people answered "good" or "fairly good," some people expressed dissatisfaction with braking operation during sudden braking or sudden stops. This point also requires improvement in the future, such as changing the settings. 

When asked if they expected​ ​autonomous driving to be implemented in Kaga City in the future (full-scale introduction, year-round operation), almost everyone who took a test drive answered "I expect so." Many also said that if autonomous buses actually began operating in the city, they would use them if the route and time were right for them. Through this demonstration experiment, we were able to once again realize the high level of interest​ ​in autonomous driving buses in Kaga City. 

Future prospects

During this demonstration experiment, we received many valuable opinions and requests from those who took the test drive. Although it was a short period of one week, it was a demonstration experiment that made us realize how much interest there was in the vehicle every day. 

Another new discovery wasthat people who live and work in Kaga City are interested in autonomous driving. ​Macnica will be conducting demonstration experiments to explore the possibility of autonomous driving buses, focusing on major stations in Kaga City. In particular, introducing mobility vehicles such as the "EVO" to three hot spring resorts, Yamashiro Onsen, Yamanaka Onsen, and Katayamazu Onsen, is expected to not only improve the mobility of residents, but also increase the number of tourists visiting the area. 

We will continue to work together to realize Kaga City's slogan, "Kaga City, a mobility-optimized city that ensures freedom of movement for citizens and visitors." We will support innovation in a wide variety of industries to maximize the potential of cities and regions according to their characteristics. We will support the realization of a smart city that utilizes next-generation mobility, including autonomous driving, and urban industries. 

Inquiry

Macnica supports the practical application of autonomous driving in various regions and facilities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding autonomous driving, please feel free to contact us below.