Background to the introduction of autonomous driving electric buses

Hitachiota City was seeking to build a transportation system that could meet the diverse mobility needs of the "Eastern District," where commercial and business sites are being developed. In order to improve the appeal of the entire city, especially the Eastern District, there was an urgent need to promote the creation of a vibrant town that combined an environmentally friendly transportation system and next-generation technology.

As part of this urban development, Macnica has been working with related companies to support the introduction of autonomous driving, which has led to the commercialization of an autonomous driving service using the "EVO" autonomous driving electric bus manufactured by GAUSSIN MACNICA MOBILITY (formerly NAVYA), which is compatible with Level 4 operation.

To ensure the regular operation of the autonomous driving EV bus, Macnica provided the operation of the "EVO", acquisition of data required for autonomous driving, setup, technical materials, etc. In addition, by introducing Macnica 's remote mobility management system "everfleet" and linking the driving data of the EVO, it became possible to check operation information in real time.

The main route for regular operation will take the bus around shopping malls and other commercial facilities. Therefore, with a view to linking with facilities and local government apps along the route, the Hitachiota City government information app "Jozurusan Navi" will provide the location information of the autonomous driving EV bus and a digital map that visualizes information on stores around the bus stop.

Regular operation details

Hitachiota City's autonomous driving electric bus will travel around the city hall and the Forest Mall Hitachiota shopping mall, which opened in 2023, along a route of approximately 1.6 km one way.

<overview>
・Start date: 2024 Year 2 Month 16 From Friday
・Operating days: Week 7 Daily operation
・ autonomous driving vehicles: EVO (level Four Compatible vehicles) 1 Unit
・ autonomous driving vehicle capacity: Passenger capacity Ten People (seats 9 1 person, 1 operator), operating speed 18km/h
・ autonomous driving vehicle design: A pink-based wrapping design is used to make the vehicle easy to see and stand out for passers-by and other drivers.
・Nickname for autonomous driving vehicles: Call for nickname suggestions 131 Among the applications, Seya Elementary School 3 Yuyoshi Oshide, a first-year student "Joppy" but Grand Prize Winner
A nickname combining the "Jo" from "Jozurusan," the "Pppy" from "Happy," and the "Pi" from the train's color, "Pink."
・ autonomous driving level: Level 2 Running
・Remote monitoring system: everfleet
Remote monitoring system installation location: Main: Ibaraki Kotsu Co., Ltd. Ota Sales Office Sub: Hitachiota City Hall

<Route details>
・Distance: Approx. one way 1.6km
・Route: Five Travel between 10 stops

Hitachiota City Hall → Kawaneya Festa Store South → Forest Mall Hitachiota ① → Cainz Hitachiota Store ① → Kasumi Hitachiota Store East ① → Forest Mall Hitachiota ② → Cainz Hitachiota Store ② → Kasumi Hitachiota Store East ② → Hitachiota City Hall

<How to board>
No prior reservation is required. Please arrive at each stop before the departure time.
*The fare is free.
*You may not be able to board if the bus is full (maximum 9 passengers).

On February​ ​16th, the first day of regular operation, a departure ceremony was held in front of one of the bus stops, "Forest Mall Hitachiota." Yuyoshi Oshite, who came up with the nickname "Joppy"for the autonomous driving EV bus, was also invited to the event and was presented with a model of Joppy.

In addition to Hitachiota City's official mascot, Jozuru-san, ROBO-SKET, the official mascot for Japan's professional basketball team, the Ibaraki Robots, and Holly-kun, the mascot for Mito Hollyhock, a professional soccer club affiliated with the Japan Professional Soccer League, also made an appearance at the departure ceremony, livening up the atmosphere at the venue.

In addition, when autonomous driving EV bus departed, local children gathered in front of the bus stop, waving flags with Joppy on them, giving the bus a grand send-off.

Results from the first day of regular operation

The morning flight was mainly for those attending the departure ceremony, while the afternoon flight was for general passengers. Many passengers boarded the flight in the afternoon, and the service was so well-received that almost all flights were full.

Future prospects

This is the first time that Macnica has​ ​operated an autonomous driving EV bus on a regular schedule. It is also the first time that the Level 4 autonomous driving EV bus "EVO" has been driven on public roads, and the first time that the remote monitoring system "everfleet"​ ​has been implemented on an autonomous driving EV bus in regular operation.

To this end, Macnica will examine not only the technical issues but also the overall business model of the autonomous driving EV bus, going through the process from demonstration testing in Hitachiota City to regular operation.

Macnica will continue to support Hitachiota City in building the city's overall structure, particularly the construction of its transportation system. In particular, through the introduction of autonomous driving EV buses, we will develop new initiatives such as linking with digital maps and municipal apps, providing information on the entire region, and MaaS businesses. We will contribute in various ways to the creation of a sustainable city.

At the same time, we plan to expand the routes for autonomous driving EV buses in Hitachiota City, expanding the system into a highly convenient transportation system. We will support the city and region in making the most of their potential to improve their attractiveness. We will work hard to create a business ecosystem and provide a wide range of support for Hitachiota City's cutting-edge urban development.

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.