Following the invention of the automobile, autonomous driving represents the most significant innovation in the evolution of mobility. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and sensor technology— alongside the deployment of the first robotaxis on public roads — are further accelerating its relevance (Minx & Dietrich, 2015, p. 7). The research presented in this paper is grounded in the KelRide project, which offers a globally unique opportunity to lift the veil and conduct an in-depth cost analysis of a highly automated shuttle service.
KelRide Project Overview
KelRide was carried out between January 2021 and June 2024 in the district of Kelheim, Bavaria. The project, involving six consortium partners, was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). Its primary objective was to implement a weather-independent, highly automated on-demand ridesharing service to complement the existing regional public transportation network.
For day-to-day operations in Kelheim, up to five highly automated and fully electric EZ10 shuttles developed by EasyMile were deployed. Over the course of the project, the service area was gradually expanded. In its final stage, it constituted the largest contiguous autonomous operating zone in Europe, covering approximately 30 kilometers of road infrastructure and 45 virtual stops. The service operated five
days per week in an on-demand format, providing mobility to residents of the Kelheim district.
The full report is available for download here.
