Autonomous driving with ahoi in Hamburg
Since January 2023, the on-demand-shuttles hvv hop operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH) have supplemented local transport in Hamburg-Harburg. Now the innovative service is being taken to a new level.
In the project „Automation of Hamburg’s on-demand service with integration into public transport“ – ahoi for short – the elements „on-demand“ and „autonomous driving“ are to be linked in a unique use case. The aim of this innovation project with research character is to develop and test an on-demand operation with a mixed fleet of 20 autonomously and 28 manually controlled vehicles. This will make ahoi the first on-demand operation with a mixed fleet of this size in Europe.
The ahoi project is jointly financed by the participating partners and has a project volume of approximately 37 million euros. In addition, it is supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) with approx. 18 million euros in funding.
The operating area of the ahoi project
The operating area of the vehicles with autonomous driving function will correspond with the operating area of the hvv hop service in Harburg. The area is located in the eastern part of the district of Harburg and includes completely or partially the districts of Eißendorf, Gut Moor, Harburg, Heimfeld, Wilstorf, Langenbek, Rönneburg, Marmstorf, Neuland and Sinstorf.
The project phases of ahoi
As part of the on-demand transport hvv hop, a mixed fleet consisting of autonomous and manually controlled vehicles is being put into operation for the ahoi project in the Hamburg-Harburg district. For this purpose, an integrated control centre will be developed and accompanying research will take place, including on the topic of accessibility.
The project will be implemented in three operational phases between March 2023 and December 2025:
The project in German media
- 26.08.2023 | Hamburger Abendblatt: HVV Hop: Wagen ohne Fahrer in Harburg – So soll es laufen
- 22.03.2023 | RTL Nord: Selbstfahrende Autos. Diese Shuttles sollen bald in Hamburg unterwegs sein
- 21.03.2023 | NDR 90,3: Millionen-Förderung für selbstfahrende Sammeltaxis in Hamburg
- 21.03.2023 | Hamburg 1: Autonomes Fahren. Die Zukunft des ÖPNV
- 21.03.2023 | WELT: Hamburg erhält Bundesförderung für selbstfahrende Shuttle
- 21.03.2023 | heise online: Autonomes Fahren: Hamburg bekommt automatisierte Shuttles
- 21.03.2023 | Hamburger Abendblatt: Shuttle-Dienst in Hamburg bald ohne Fahrer unterwegs
On-demand transport in Hamburg
With the update of the Hamburg Climate Plan, the city has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. To achieve this, public transport will be expanded and the integration of on-demand services will also be strengthened, with automated transport taking on an increasing role. In order to be able to determine the potential of vehicles with autonomous driving functions, it is necessary to test a fleet of a certain size under real conditions. The integration into other mobility services must also be investigated. This is where the ahoi project comes in.
The project is part of the on-demand service hvv hop in the Hamburg-Harburg area. The project area in Harburg was chosen because the hvv hop area with its structures for testing a mixed fleet of manual vehicles and vehicles with autonomous driving functions offers diverse requirements and real transport benefits for the region. It includes both highly frequented roads with an urban character and areas with a rural character.