Local Motors has reached an agreement with Berlin-based, door2door, to develop ride-pooling software for its electric autonomous vehicle, Olli 2.0.
This is the first step between the two parties in making Olli an integrated ecosystem.
German lawmakers recently adopted the world’s first legal framework for autonomous driving to allow some AVs on public roads, pointing to the readiness of AVs to move from specialised pilot projects to commercial fleet applications.
Door2door’s mobility analytics software will determine optimal parameters for mobility operators to run autonomous shuttles, supporting transit planners with simulations and demand/supply analysis. Further, door2door’s on-demand fleet management software will be deployed on Olli’s onboard HMI and passengers’ mobile phones.
Riders will be able to call Olli to their location and define a drop-off location within the vehicle’s operating domain. In order to fully optimise the joint autonomous shuttle service, door2door’s pooling algorithms will allow for shared rides.
“The partnership with door2door is an important step for Local Motors as we expand operations in Europe,” said Local Motors EMEA GM, Carlo Iacovini. “Door2door’s software will integrate well with Olli 2.0, creating a strong solution to scale as legislators recognise the viable applications of AVs.”
Local Motors has deployed multiple Olli vehicles in the EU, most recently providing thousands of rides in Hambach, Germany and Ghent, Belgium.
“The key to success for autonomous vehicles is to combine hardware with software and thereby use the power that lies within pooling and routing,” added door2door CCO, André Gerhardy.
“Based on our long-term experience with on-demand mobility services, we will enable our customers to manage and optimise the operations of an autonomous vehicle fleet while providing an end-to-end, multi-modal seamless experience for their riders.”
Founded in 2012 with the goal to make cities smarter, door2door created an on-demand mobility & MaaS software platform, which can be integrated into any existing mobility network.
Door2door is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Platform for Shaping the Future of Mobility.