Italian design house Pininfarina is usually associated with supercars such as Ferrari. But now the company is partnering with Austrian mobility company Benteler to build an autonomous electric shuttle known as the Holon.
The vehicle incorporates the existing Mobileye Drive system, which combines multiple on-board cameras, LiDAR and radar modules to enable Level 4 autonomous driving. This means that Holons can perform all driving tasks under certain conditions, but can also be overridden by human operators if necessary.
It can accommodate up to 15 passengers at a time and features “slightly staggered” seating intended to provide a little more privacy than the traditional side-by-side set-up.
Passengers board and disembark through electric wing doors that are activated by photoelectric sensors. The ramp automatically lengthens and lowers at each stop, making it easier for wheelchair users. An integrated mechanism automatically secures those people’s chairs while the shuttle is in motion, keeping them from rolling over.
Blind riders can also be shown and verbally notified of upcoming stops via Braille displays and audiovisual systems.
Benteler
The Holon has a top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and is reported to offer a range of about 290 km (180 miles) on a single charge of its battery pack. Over-the-air firmware and software updates allow regular upgrades without temporary service interruptions.
Plans call for the vehicle to be used for both on-demand and scheduled transportation services, as well as the potential to perform last-mile freight deliveries. It will initially be the subject of pilot projects in Germany and the United States, to be trialed by mass transit company Hochbahn and mobility provider His Beep, respectively.
Commercial production of the shuttle is expected to begin in the United States from 2025.
By the way, “holon” is a Greek philosophical term that means “that which is both whole and part of the whole”.
Source: Benteler
