Riding the Future: Barcelona’s Driverless Bus Takes the Wheel
Imagine hopping on a bus in downtown Barcelona, only to realize there’s no driver at the wheel. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, this week, it became a reality. Commuters in Barcelona are experiencing free rides on a futuristic, driverless mini-bus, thanks to Renault and autonomous vehicle experts, WeRide.
A Glimpse into the Future
The electric mini-bus is running on a 2.2-kilometer circular route with four stops in the heart of the city. It navigates busy streets, brakes for lane changes, and cruises down Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most iconic boulevards. The bus is equipped with 10 cameras and eight lidar sensors, helping it safely maneuver through traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Pau Cugat, an 18-year-old student, was one of the first to try it. “We passed a regular city bus, and I thought, ‘That’s the bus of the past, and this is the bus of the future,’” he said.
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Why Barcelona?
While driverless vehicles are being tested globally, Europe has been slower to adopt this technology. Renault aims to change that. “The US and China are leading in autonomous vehicle experiments. Europe needs to catch up,” said Patrick Vergelas, head of Renault’s autonomous mobility projects.
The company has already tested the bus at the French Open and Zurich Airport. Now, Barcelona’s bustling streets are the perfect proving ground.
Safe and Sustainable
The electric bus can travel up to 120 kilometers on a single charge and reach speeds of 40 km/h. Carlos Santos from Renault’s autonomous driving team shared that passengers have had mixed reactions. “Some smile, others cry, take photos, or even try to open the doors,” he said. But one thing is clear: the ride is safe. So far, there have been no reported accidents.
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What’s Next?
This pilot project is just the beginning. Renault plans to expand testing to other cities, including Valence in France. The goal? To prepare Europe for a future where driverless buses are a common sight.
