This has been agreed upon by vhh.mobility (Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein) and IAV (Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr). Germany's third-largest municipal bus operator and IAV, one of the leading development partners in the automotive industry, have now signed the contract for the underlying research and development cooperation. This paves the way for a key milestone in the ahoi project. The partner for the construction and supply of the autonomous shuttles is the Austrian vehicle developer eVersum, a pioneer in the field of autonomous electric commercial vehicles.

As part of the cooperation, a total of five vehicles will initially be developed and supplied. Shortly after delivery, test operations with a safety operator on board will begin in 2026, and the shuttles will be seen on the streets of Harburg. In 2026, test operations with a closed user group will also start. In the long term, the number of autonomous vehicles is expected to increase to up to 20.

The basis for the autonomous shuttles in the ahoi project is the E-Shuttle from eVersum. Measuring 6.90 meters in length, the electrically powered vehicles will provide nine seats as well as additional space for a wheelchair or stroller.

IAV will supply the autonomous driving system, which consists of sensors and software. The sensors primarily include LiDAR, camera, and radar systems that continuously monitor the vehicle's surroundings. The software generates driving maneuvers using object recognition and safely navigates the vehicle along the predetermined route.

Carsten Rinka, Chief Sales and Projects Officer at IAV, commented: "With our expertise in autonomous driving technologies, we are making a decisive contribution to the mobility of the future. The ahoi project gives us the opportunity to develop and implement innovative solutions that enable sustainable and secure public transport."

Dr. Lorenz Kasch, Managing Director of vhh.mobility, stated: "The path to fully autonomous shuttles as part of public transport in Germany is still long and requires true pioneering work. We look forward to collaborating with IAV and eVersum to further advance innovative and future-oriented mobility solutions for the people in the Hamburg metropolitan region."

About hvv hop

The hvv hop shuttle is a public transport service within the Hamburg Transport Association (hvv) that operates without a fixed schedule or routes and is integrated into the hvv tariff system. Rides can be taken with any hvv time or single-ticket, plus a surcharge of two euros per person per trip in Harburg. Passengers with similar routes are automatically grouped into rideshares using an algorithm and transported together.

The service can be booked via the hvv hop app and is available in Harburg 24/7. The app and the algorithm were developed by ioki GmbH. The trip can start or end at any address in the service area, connecting to a stop or hvv hop halt. Additional stops are set up in the service area to ensure optimal coverage, complementing the existing public transport system effectively.

The service uses state-of-the-art, emission-free electric cars from the British manufacturer LEVC. The vehicles have six seats and are wheelchair-accessible, allowing wheelchair users to board via a ramp. Strollers can also be transported with ease.

As part of the ahoi innovation project (short for Automating Hamburg's On-Demand Offering with Integration into Public Transport), hvv hop will be developed into an on-demand operation with a mixed fleet of autonomous and manually operated vehicles by the end of 2025.