VW's Self-Driving ID. Buzz Electric Van Faces an Arctic Stress Test
VW evaluates the ID. Buzz autonomous prototype in Norway in winter conditions, to test the resilience of its sensors in snow and low temperatures.
The automaker has been working toward deploying a fleet of autonomous electric vans in Europe but has yet to launch a fleet of driverless vehicles.
SAE Level 4 tech has seen relatively limited deployment around the world, as developers struggle with technical issues and the business case behind robotaxis.
Autonomous vehicle sensors have been notoriously averse to various weather and light conditions, including rain and snow, as well as working at night.
This is one of the reasons we haven't seen a rush of autonomous fleet developers to launch robotaxi services in Minneapolis, for instance.
But sensor technology is slowly evolving to cope with these difficulties, as automakers continue to tweak their technology ahead of operations debuts.
Volkswagen is now testing its SAE Level 4 ID. Buzz vans a day's drive from the Arctic circle in Oslo, Norway, as part of its planned MOIA ride-pooling service.
The focus of these tests is to see how the various sensors will work in ice, snow, and low temperatures, in addition to seeing how the vehicles will be able to read road signs and markings partially covered by snow.
This is something that current robotaxi operators have rarely faced in US cities where SAE Level 4 cars have been launched thus far, as they've largely seen fleet deployments in California and moderate-weather southwest states.
"Winter road conditions with temperatures down to –20 degrees Celsius are the ultimate stress test for autonomous vehicles," said Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen ADMT. "For the widespread deployment of the technology, it is essential that they operate reliably not only in ideal environments but also in winter weather."
Until now, MOIA has been primarily testing its tech in Germany, specifically in Munich and Hamburg, as well as in Austin, Texas.
The VW Group unit still plans to launch autonomous ride-pooling services in Hamburg in 2025, at least for some audiences.
This year MOIA plans to begin testing of its autonomous vans with something it calls external closed user groups, thereby letting selected individuals try the SAE Level 4 tech, mirroring the gradual steps that robotaxi fleets like Waymo have taken.
"Users of mobility services expect a comfortable, reliable, and safe mode of transport—regardless of the season and weather conditions. This remains especially true in the autonomous age," adds Sascha Meyer, CEO of MOIA.
Europe has not seen as much progress in the launches of robotaxi fleets as the US and China, despite automakers and suppliers having been developing the technology just as long.
The main reason for this are current regulations, as well as the high costs of managing and monitoring autonomous vehicle fleets compared to how much money they can generate from passengers.
As in other parts of the world, there is no shortage of human drivers working for ride-hailing apps with whom robotaxis will have to compete cost-wise.
By contrast, SAE Level 3 eyes-off systems are much more widespread compared to North America, where they are held back largely by individual state regulations.
VW itself has teamed up with fleet management company Holo in Oslo to test its MOIA vans with safety drivers on board, and doesn't appear to be put off by the operating costs seen by robotaxi developers as it preps for a limited launch in Hamburg—an issue still rarely mentioned in public discussions of scaling up robotaxi fleets.
In the longer term, VW will need to cope with more than winter weather if its deployment of autonomous MOIA vans is a success, given how much pushback US robotaxi companies have seen stateside.
Will robotaxis become a common sight in Europe by 2030, or will the debut of this tech remains relatively confined for the first five years? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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