Dubai: In yet another step towards making self-driving transport a reality in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched phase four of its Driverless Vehicle Project.
The project will see the fourth trial of a driverless vehicle, EZ10, at the Sustainable City in Dubailand.
The latest trial, which will last till the end of this month, follows three successful test runs over the last two years at Dubai World Trade Centre, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.
Part of Dubai’s attempt to adopt smart mobility solutions, the trial run is among several RTA initiatives that aim to realise Dubai Government’s target of replacing 25 per cent of the city’s trips with autonomous vehicles by 2030.
“The new phase is part of RTA’s plan to test the driverless technology under Dubai’s climatic conditions. Through these trials, the RTA is seeking to familiarise the public with driverless vehicles technology and the Dubai Driverless Mobility Strategy,” said Ahmad Behroozian, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
EZ ride
Built by French tech firm Easy Mile, the autonomous vehicle is an eco-friendly electric shuttle that can run on both directions and is powered by a 15kv battery.
Capable of operating up to four hours while using the air-conditioners, the vehicle can go up to 10 hours without AC on a single charge.
Cruising at a speed of 25km per hour, EZ10 can reach up to a speed of 40km per hour and is considered an ideal last mile option.
“The smart vehicle can accommodate eight riders. It moves on virtual tracks that can be configured easily to make abrupt changes to meet demand. The vehicle is fitted with all safety requisites and controls of the pre-planned routes, along with sensors and smart monitoring systems to cope with any obstacles and avoid a collision,” added Behroozian.
Behroozian said that the trial run is planned at Sustainable City, as the neighbourhood aims to use only electric and sustainable vehicles for public transportation.
Designed to travel short distances on pre-programmed routes and under different environments, EZ10 is ideal in areas like university and corporate campuses, industrial zones, gated communities, airports, recreation centres and pedestrian areas. The vehicle is also special needs friendly, with a movable ramp allowing access to wheelchair-bound passengers.
