EasyMile Receives NHTSA Approval to Test Shared Autonomous Vehicles on Public Roads
Shared, electric, autonomous vehicles will also dramatically reduce the need for parking, total vehicle miles traveled, and overall greenhouse gas emissions
Denver, CO – October 12th, 2017 – EasyMile congratulates our partners at the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and GoMentum Station for receiving permission from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to test EasyMile’s EZ10 driverless shuttles on public roads within the 600-acre Bishop Ranch business park.
Shared Driverless Shuttle for Last Mile Connectivity
In March 2017, CCTA, GoMentum Station, Bishop Ranch and EasyMile announced the second phase of testing for the EasyMile shared autonomous vehicles at the Bishop Ranch business park in San Ramon, California. Advancing to the third phase of testing – which includes operating on public roads within the business park – entails obtaining permission from both NHTSA and the California DMV. CCTA staff are in active discussions with DMV to provide the information required by state statute and secure permission for this next phase of activity on the pilot program.
‘‘We are proud to have developed a driverless technology solution that can address mobility challenges and be trusted by governing bodies,” said Gilbert Gagnaire, CEO and Founder of EasyMile. “We look forward to continue to partner with our clients and their governing bodies to ensure that our driverless shuttles can be deployed with appropriate permissions.”
‘‘We are excited to be at the cutting edge of innovation in driverless technology with one of the first pilot demonstrations of shared autonomous vehicles on public roads”, said Randy Iwasaki, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. “This technology offers an innovative new approach to helping travelers get to transit stations, business districts, and other local amenities without the hassle of driving and parking. We expect that these vehicles will solve the so-called ‘‘first-and-last-mile’’ challenge – a solution that could be replicated by many urban and suburban communities across the United States.”
During the third phase of testing, members of the general public will not be able to ride the shared autonomous vehicles on public streets. Only predetermined testers and evaluators chosen from employees from various employers within Bishop Ranch will be able to ride the vehicles as they traverse public streets within the Bishop Ranch business park. EasyMile shuttles are designed to solve first-and-last mile commuting challenges, providing a zero-emission alternative to help residents connect to their transit centers and reduce congestion in their communities.
About EasyMile
Founded in 2014, EasyMile has a global reach with headquarters in Toulouse (France) and regional offices in Denver (USA), Berlin (Germany) and Singapore. The company has a workforce of 100 highly-skilled and passionate employees with expertise in robotics, computer vision and vehicle dynamics. EasyMile provides autonomous driving software and technologies for the first and last mile transportation of passengers and goods in various application sites: private areas, urban, suburban and rural environments. The driverless EZ10 shuttle has been deployed in 19 countries, including Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East and Europe.
About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.
About GoMentum Station
GoMentum Station in Concord, California is where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority leads and facilitates a collaborative partnership among multiple automobile manufacturers; original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers; communications suppliers; technology companies; researchers and academia; public agencies and other partners. At GoMentum Station, technology, innovation and commercialization converge to redefine the next generation of mobility. More information about GoMentum Station is available at gomentumstation.net.
