MultiCAV Autonomous Vehicles Given Go-Ahead

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) to finally hit the public road, the Government confirms.

11:42 01 March 2018

For the first time, connected and autonomous vehicles will be trialed on public roads as part of the 30-month MultiCAV project led by UK transport operator FirstGroup. The goal is to switch up to 50per cent of private vehicle journeys within Milton Park into shared, electric-powered pods following the trial.

 

InnovateUK has awarded the funding of £2.5million for the project, which will be undertaken by a consortium of organisations investing in the development of autonomous vehicles.

 

During the trial period, commuters to the site will be given the ability to connect with the self-driving pods from local transport services, while booking and paying for their trip in one easy process.

 

Richard Harrington, BEIS Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Business and Energy, said: “Through these competitions, we are offering innovative businesses support to take their projects to the next level and help them achieve commercial success.

 

"The projects that we are nurturing mean that we are a step closer to securing our place as a world leader in self-driving vehicles.

 

"This significant investment is a mark of the innovation that is at the heart of our modern industrial strategy.

 

"The development of new technologies is a cornerstone of the UK’s world-class science and research and will ensure that we deliver a Britain fit for the future by creating jobs and the skills needed to succeed.”