2 minute read
Belle-Idée ULTIMO at the TPG
by saam.swiss
This project will lay the foundations for a profitable door-to-door service using automated vehicles. The findings will also be channelled into new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Solutions that can be integrated into existing transport services.
Project funded by the European Union and The Swiss Confederation.
Ultimo Project
The ULTIMO project aims to establish and introduce the first economically sustainable, large-scale automated vehicle (AV) services for public transport that are tailored to the needs of passengers. It focuses on demandresponsive and door-to-door services to improve sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility.
The ULTIMO project is operating in three locations in Europe:
• Geneva (Switzerland)
• Herford (Germany) Oslo (Norway)
Budget: 56 million euros, co-financed by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
Interview with TPG CEO - Denis Berdoz
Denis Berdoz has been the CEO of TPG since 2015. Before joining TPG, he headed a private company operating in the transport and energy sectors. Prior to that, he was Head of the technical department at Geneva Airport for 12 years and previously worked in the automotive industry for around ten years.
What challenges can automated mobility overcome?
Automated mobility could help us overcome two major challenges, namely cost control and driver recruitment, which are often difficult for us, as it is for many other companies in the sector.
What are the TPG's expectations regarding the ULTIMO project?
The development of on-demand transport is one of the priorities of Geneva's public transport company (TPG). The long-term goal is to integrate automated vehicles in order to offer our customers additional flexibility to meet changing needs. TPG has high expectations for the ULTIMO project. We are planning to receive around 15 automated vehicles financed by this project. Integrating automated vehicles into our existing fleet represents a significant opportunity to develop "on-demand solutions” and improve the quality and accessibility of public transport in our region. n
