Company unveils ‘the future of transport’ at Fleet200 meeting

Autonomous shuttles currently operating in two UK locations may soon become a more familiar presence on British roads.

The Ohmio Lift driverless shuttles are currently in use at the NEC near Birmingham and on the streets of Milton Keynes. These vehicles are part of pilot projects exploring the potential role of self-driving transport in future mobility solutions.

At the NEC, the shuttles run a four-mile route connecting Birmingham International rail station, the NEC, and Birmingham Business Park. This initiative is part of the Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project, which aims to assess how autonomous vehicles could integrate into existing transport networks.

In Milton Keynes, the shuttles operate under the Street Connected and Autonomous Vehicles project, led by Milton Keynes City Council and Smart City Consultancy, in partnership with other organisations.

Each eight-seat, fully electric shuttle currently operates at speeds of up to 16mph, with plans to increase this to 25mph. They rely on cameras and sensors to monitor traffic and are remotely supervised from a city centre control room.

Under current regulations, a safety driver remains on board to intervene if needed. However, improvements in AI and vehicle autonomy are being closely monitored, with the aim of operating these shuttles without a safety driver by 2027.

Ohmio is working with local councils and universities to expand the use of autonomous shuttles, particularly in new housing developments and public transport networks. The goal is to provide reliable first- and last-mile connectivity, such as linking residential areas with nearby train stations.

Speaking at the recent Fleet200 Strategy Network meeting at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Ian Pulford (pictured), director of Ohmio UK, shared future plans which include integrating shuttles with traffic signals for smoother journeys with minimal stopping and expanding capacity to accommodate more passengers.

“Our ambition in the UK is to enhance first-mile and last-mile transport options,” said Pulford. “We aim to support new housing developments and help residents seamlessly connect with trains, buses, or other transport networks.”

The shuttles are manufactured by New Zealand-based Ohmio.