Urbanloop takes a new step forward

The first Urbanloop capsule has just rolled off the production lines. The trial phase in real-world conditions will start next year.

Born in the halls of the University of Lorraine, Urbanloop positions itself as an eco-friendly alternative to cars in the city. These small capsules run on tracks and are coordinated using artificial intelligence. They will be tested in real conditions in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This first stage will be followed by a larger-scale deployment, which will begin with a service in Nancy starting in 2026.

The industrialization phase has just begun, in a factory located near Nancy. A first “mass-produced” capsule, meaning with the final characteristics, rolled off the production line on January 31, 2023. The production is managed by the company CNi, which already has a functional industrial facility. “Thanks to this partnership, we gain one year of development because we don’t have to worry about creating a factory, purchasing equipment; everything is on-site, just five minutes from our test circuit,” explains Urbanloop president Jean-Philippe Mangeot.

The first capsule will be presented to the public during the forum of the Transport Innovation Agency, which will be held on February 7 and 8 at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in La Villette. During this event, Urbanloop will notably receive a visit from Clément Beaune, the Minister of Transport.

Urbanloops to replace the metro where it can’t exist

In Nancy, Urbanloop will connect Maxéville to the new judicial district. “It will allow shared space with new forms of soft mobility and help green the city of Nancy, notably through vegetation along the entire route: thanks to its lightness and tramway-style rails, Urbanloop doesn’t need asphalt to move or extensive foundations,” explain the people behind the project.

Urbanloop capsules can carry up to two passengers and are adapted for people with reduced mobility. If the concept proves effective, it could have a bright future in metropolises that, due to geological reasons in particular, cannot develop metro systems. This is precisely the case in Nancy, which is one of the reasons the city was chosen to inaugurate this new mode of transportation.

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