New Benteler automated driving brand goes one step further and shows the latest version of its autonomous people mover, with Mobileye technology, Pininfarina design and electric drive. It is now scheduled to start in 2025, with a range of up to 290 kilometers. A cargo version is also planned.
HOLON, the new brand of the BENTELER Group, is presenting its autonomous, fully electric and inclusive mover for the first time at the “Consumer Electronics Show” (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. The vehicle is the world’s first autonomous mover with automotive standards – leading in terms of safety, driving comfort and production quality. The HOLON Mover operates autonomously and at a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour. It has a range of around 290 kilometers.
“Our mover is an answer to social megatrends: urbanization, climate change, demographics – mobility has to change. With our Mover we prove that emission-free, safe, comfortable and inclusive passenger transport is possible. And thus provide the answer to traffic problems that appear in cities. We are very pleased to present the vehicle to the world public today,” advertises Marco Kollmeier, Managing Director of HOLON.
The Mover’s areas of application include “on-demand” offers – such as ride pooling and ride hailing – but also normal scheduled services. The first pilot project has already been announced: in Germany with the Hamburger Hochbahn, the second largest local transport company in the country. In the US, mobility provider Beep will be responsible for implementing the first vehicles. Additional areas of application and thus customers include private facilities such as campuses, airports or national parks.
Mover Designed to be Inclusive From The Ground up
The vehicle catches the eye with its asymmetrical design, which combines maximum functionality with a high recognition value. The vehicle is designed for up to 15 passengers and thus closes the gap between private and public transport. The room concept is spacious. The comfortable, subtly offset seating arrangement gives a feeling of privacy while meeting all safety requirements.
“The design of the vehicle combines two character traits – friendly and inviting as well as technologically advanced and clear. This applies to both the exterior and the interior,” explains Silvio Pietro Angori, CEO of the renowned Italian design company Pininfarina.
The mover is designed to be inclusive from the ground up: Electric double-leaf doors with door light barriers and an automatically extendable ramp as well as a standard built-in lowering function ensure barrier-free access. The automatic fixation of wheelchairs inside the vehicle combines comfort with safety. Instructions in Braille and an audiovisual guide provide additional support for visually impaired people while driving.
Autonomous, Digital and Sustainable
The SAE Level 4 Mover is based on Mobileye Drive, the industry’s first commercial autonomous driving system for use in a defined operational design domain. The autonomous driving system was developed to make groundbreaking mobility concepts possible. The realization of the mover is seen as proof of the reliability and scalability of our approach, says Johann Jungwirth, Senior Vice President, Autonomous Vehicles at Mobileye.
The scalability is ensured by three functions that help the vehicle to make the right decisions on the road: an advanced detection system that uses various additional sensors, an innovative mapping technology and a detailed model for the driving style. Of course, the vehicle is fully electric. Over-the-air updates ensure the latest state of the art, and the overall concept emphasizes sustainable materials.
Cooperations For Autonomous Mobility Services
Another development partner for the vehicle alongside Pininfarina and Mobileye is the electronics and IT specialist Cognizant Mobility. The brand relies on cooperation for the use of the vehicle in road traffic. In the USA, the mobility provider Beep is on board as a partner. It offers tailored services and a technology platform for service management, governance and usability.
“Autonomous, automotive-grade shuttles are an integral part of reducing congestion and emissions, enabling first-to-last mile transportation, and increasing mobility availability. The unique, revolutionary added value of shared, autonomous electric vehicles is evident in our current projects and use cases. With the new Mover, HOLON is setting a standard for this type of vehicle. We look forward to introducing it to our current and future customers,” said Joe Moye, CEO of Beep.
The start of production for the mover is planned for the end of 2025 in the USA. In the years to come, additional production capacities are to be built in Europe and the Middle East/Asia. The particularly flexible platform architecture makes it possible to bring other variants onto the market in the near future – both for passenger transport and for cargo applications. In particular, delivery on the last mile is seen as an area of application.
This article is originally published on vision-mobility.de
