An ecological, autonomous and intelligent urban transport: it is the philosophy of Urbanloop that today shows new successes. Specifically, these are small autonomous vehicles four meters long, one meter wide, which can embark 4 to 12 people (depending on the model) at 50 km/h maximum on small trips to connect two sites, a parking lot and a site, or for circulation in airports, vast industrial sites … There are many possibilities.
They are piloted by artificial intelligence algorithms and work without battery thanks to a very low voltage power through rails with a consumption of 0.47 Wh/km/passenger, 100 times less than a conventional electric car.
“With a capacity of 300 to 3,000 passengers per hour (one passage every 15 seconds), Urbanloop constitutes an economic and clean solution to serve the territories where the population’s density does not justify the investment in heavy transport (Metro, tram, cart),” explains the company that highlights the pen weight of these ferries.
Technically, the rails form interconnected curls, and these are algorithms that optimize the movement in real time: travel, speed, detachment of overloaded curl loading.
Much cheaper than a tram but different missions
Originally used by four engineering schools on the Nancy side since 2021, this vehicle has proven only during the Paris Olympic Games last year by transporting 30,000 people from the parking lot of the Saint-Fag He was commissioned by the Grand Nancy metropolis for a seven -kilometer link between a relay parking lot on the outskirts and the city center, the amount of the contract that amounts to 14 million euros and the start -up will be in 2027.
Urbanloop will also take its first steps in Dunkerque in a 10 -kilometer loop and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) with an unprecedented design for these two metropolis. Transforders in the 8 -point version will be presented in the two cities at the end of September for a 2028 start -up for the French city and in 2026 for the city of Emirates.
The technical approach was also reviewed, based on comments of experience in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines with a single guide rail.
“A showcase” in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, Urbanloop will operate on a route of 800 meters with three stations for a “local showcase”. It will be a matter of experiencing the system with difficult conditions (sand, heat …) and promoting this mode of transport in the region. These success are explained by the low cost of installation and operation of Urbanloop in particular the tram.
Which also allows the company “to win live contracts and more subsidies”, underlines the manager. Dozens of studies are currently underway with communities, airports, industrial sites, says the new company. And to add that the order book is now up to 50 million euros.
Source: BFM TV
