RATP: An Autonomous Bus Is Already Running in Île-de-France
This page is translated from the original post "RATP : un bus autonome roule déjà en Île-de-France" in French.
- 24/06/2022 8:30
Since September 2021, the RATP operates an autonomous electric bus on line 393 in the Val-de-Marne department (94) between Créteil and Sucy-en-Brie.
The autonomous car is still a science fiction concept, which probably won’t arrive in France before 2030 to connect point A to point B without human intervention. However, testing has already begun on simple, short routes, especially with public transportation. For example, the Navya shuttle operated in La Défense (92) between 2017 and 2019, and has been circulating since April 2021 in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (78).
12 kilometers in autonomous bus
More impressive, an autonomous bus has been in operation for over 9 months, still in Île-de-France. The RATP group launched one on line 393. This route connects Thiais to Sucy-en-Brie, via 20 stops and over a distance of 12 kilometers.
“The RATP group is a leader in autonomous mobility,” says Catherine Guillouard, the group’s CEO, “our expertise is now widely recognized with more than 15 experiments already conducted in France and internationally, and over 100,000 passengers transported.”
The 100% electric vehicle is 12 meters long and has 18 seats. Made by Chinese brand CRRC and marked Clément Bayard, it has also undergone some modifications. While identical in appearance, it is equipped with five specific sensors. Outside, the vehicle features two LiDAR sensors at the front, accompanied by two radars and a camera.
Public trial in Fall 2022
The bus can operate autonomously, but for now it runs empty and an operator remains on board to intervene if needed. Testing began in September 2021, initially at night to limit risks. Subsequently, the autonomous bus has operated during the day and is expected to carry passengers this fall.
The vehicle was also exhibited to the public during the Vivatech event (June 15-18, 2022). We were able to approach the electric autonomous bus and board it. Confirmed, this bus is fully like a traditional vehicle, except for the control cabin with an additional monitoring screen.
However, no other autonomous bus route is currently scheduled in the region. The RATP group operates several autonomous shuttles and will introduce an autonomous flying taxi, the eVTO Volocopter, in 2024.
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