Good practice:

E-mobility and autonomous driving - CityMobil2

CityMobil2, which was coordinated by UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE, set up various pilots for automated road transport systems in different urban environments across Europe. Automated transport systems are made up of electric vehicles operating without a driver in collective mode. They are deemed to play a useful role in the transport mix as they can supply a good transport service (individual or collective) in areas of low or un-met demand complementing the main public transport network.
The four year CITYMOBIL2 project deployed two fleets of six ten-passenger driverless vehicles in Italy, France, Switzerland, Finland, Greece and Spain.
More specifically, one pilot action was implemented in the city of Trikala from August 2015 to February 2016 and involved the operation of a fully automated electric mini-bus, in the city centre. Building on the results of its predecessor CityMobil project, CityMobil2 used a geographical classification to identify the transport tasks better suitable to transport system based on road vehicle automation.
For the first time, a small electric driverless bus, or Automated Road Transport System (ARTS), run for first time in mixed traffic, without carrying vehicle control equipment
During that demonstration, benefits of driverless technology were highlighted; readiness of ARTS to be rolled out onto public streets was examined and improved; challenges of movement in urban environments were addressed; and valuable feedback by users, residents

In terms of resources, at least one automated e-bus is needed along with at least one remote operator (adequately trained) in a dedicated and specially equipped control room. Moreover, interventions need to be made in the traffic lighting system.

During the project,12,138 citizens used the service, rating 4.3 out of 5 for usefulness and the overall service was rated at 3.6 out of 5. Therefore the project has affected the public acceptance of e-mobility and the embracement of using automated transport systems as a complement of current public transport system, in a positive way in the city of Trikala. Moreover, initiatives like this, make the local citizens to become less reluctant on participating and testing such vehicles

Integrating the AVs in mixed traffic mode with limited segregation; implementing the new legal framework for vehicle operation in mixed traffic for the first time in Europe as well as a new legal landscape for vehicle homologation for the first time in Greece and performing remote emergency breaks.

This practice is potentially interesting for other regions or other sectors to learn from. The project identified three main barriers to the deployment of automated road vehicles: the implementation framework, the legal framework and the unknown wider economic effects. These barriers are essential in R&D projects across different regions and the EU-funded CityMobil2 project has provided valuable insight into the nature of these barriers and eventually into how to overcome them in order to smooth the way for the procurement and implementation of innovative road transport systems.
The project is a good practice for other cities and regions for the underserved mobility needs of residents, based on the possibility of using public automated transport (driver-less). Today CityMobil2 partners can share their experience with any other city on how to safely implement last mile automated transport services.