The streets of Barcelona have been hosting some very special passengers for a few days now. They are not tourists, they are not commuters, but they are not drivers either: They are autonomous minibuses that move without anyone at the wheel. Europe seems to be struggling in the race towards autonomous mobility, dominated so far by the United States and China, but the Catalan city (as has often happened, even with Madrid, on the subject of urban planning) is pioneering an experiment that could change the way we think about public transportation forever. He reiterates it also Patrick Vergelas, responsible for autonomous mobility projects of Renault, involved in the project. “So far we haven’t had many realities of this kind in Europe. That’s why we want to demonstrate that autonomous driving works and prepare for this path in public transport.”
Fast Tracks for Artificial Intelligence
The Barcelona experiment is not a simple exercise in style or a marketing operation; it is a field test, in the harshest conditions possible. Two autonomous minibuses travel a 2,2-kilometer circuit in the heart of the city every day, navigating chaotic traffic, distracted pedestrians and speeding motorbikes.
The most interesting aspect? Citizens can ride it for free, experiencing this science fiction experience first-hand. It is no coincidence that Renault chose Barcelona: the city represents the perfect European urban laboratory, with its population density, its intense traffic and its variety of road situations.
As someone once said, the future is already here, it's just not equally distributed. And in Barcelona, the future is definitely more present than anywhere else.
Electronic eyes more attentive than human ones
The minibuses are equipped with an impressive technological arsenal: 10 cameras and 8 lidar sensors (a kind of radar that uses laser pulses) that allow the vehicle to “see” its surroundings with a precision that we humans can only dream of.
With a'range of 120 kilometers and a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour, these electric vehicles are in effect functional prototypes of what could become the public transport of the near future. The collaboration between Renault e WeRide aims to develop automated public transport solutions in Europe with an autonomy level L4: a level where The vehicle can handle all driving situations autonomously, within a defined operating area, without the need for human intervention.
From Barcelona to Valence: The Future Takes Shape
As you may have guessed from the title, this is not an isolated experiment. After an initial test in Valence, France, from 10 March to 19 April, the goal is to implement a commercial level 4 automated shuttle service starting from July 2025.
The first automated mobility network with a high level of service in Valence will connect a TGV train station to the many businesses within the surrounding 162-hectare industrial park, serving the real needs of 3.000 employees. Look at Barcelona today: it could be your city tomorrow. And perhaps, in a few years, the idea of a chauffeur-driven bus will seem as old as a horse-drawn carriage does today.
