ELMO: the remote-controlled car demonstrated in Toulouse

Not a miniature model for children but a “real” car that will be tested in real conditions on May 30th.

Based in Estonia, the company ELMO presents itself as a “next-generation green mobility service provider”. Already well established in its domestic market with 14,000 customers and 140 cars in service, it now aims to market its services in France.

To quickly make a name for itself, ELMO seeks to impress crowds with its remote vehicle control technology. The company will indeed showcase a remote-controlled car in Toulouse, as part of the ITS European Congress. A real-world test is scheduled for Monday, May 30th, between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm, near the Exhibition Park.

Cars controlled via 4G

ELMO prototypes are not autonomous cars because they are still controlled by a human. Simply put, the human is no longer behind the wheel. They drive remotely, using a station equipped with a steering wheel, pedals, and screens connected to the car’s camera. Instructions are transmitted via the 4G network.

Coming soon in rental fleets?

Currently tested on Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf, the technology operates without the need to install special infrastructure on the road. According to ELMO, it could open new opportunities in the military sector or in local transportation. But it is primarily designed for its own field of activity that the company has developed this system.

“Thanks to innovative technology, ELMO vehicles are delivered without a driver and are fully remotely controlled. The user can thus order a car via the app with a click and receive it directly at the specified address”, explains the company. This makes sense, but for now, delivering driverless cars still seems a bit utopian, especially due to legal issues.

Read also: Autonomous driving: Mercedes overtakes Tesla with the Drive Pilot system