In Munich, electric buses have been tested to drive autonomously in a convoy, with only the first bus being controlled by a human driver. This technology, called “Platooning,” aims to increase flexibility and reduce costs. The project, called “Testfeld München – Pilotversuch Urbaner automatisierter Straßenverkehr” (TEMPUS), is mostly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. The Platooning system, developed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (MIT) in cooperation with Dutch bus manufacturer Ebusco and the Munich City Utilities, ensures that the buses follow the exact movements of the lead bus without a human driver. The goal is to bring these new vehicles into regular operation by the middle of the decade.
Platooning allows electric city bus fleets to drive closely together using electronic control. These bus convoys are flexible and can be adjusted to individual needs. Only the first vehicle requires human control, while the rest of the buses follow automatically. Communication between the buses is through a purely information technology connection, allowing for easy separation and reconnection of the vehicle chains. In addition to flexibility, standardized vehicles and uniform sizes offer further advantages to urban bus companies. This makes the development, production, and operation of buses more efficient, making the entire electrification process in city bus traffic more cost-effective.
However, there are still technical challenges that need to be overcome. For example, the distance between the buses cannot be too great to prevent other vehicles from merging in. The system must also be able to detect pedestrians who may walk between the buses. Environmental factors such as ice, dust, snow, and rain must also be considered. Despite these challenges, experts in the field of public transportation see automated driving as particularly advantageous from both an ecological and economic perspective. This trend is gaining importance due to the ongoing shortage of bus drivers.
