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Can VW’s ride-sharing van withstand the Arctic’s ice? VW’s autonomous vehicle faces the ultimate winter test on Norway’s icy roads.
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VW has put its ID autonomous system to the test. The Buzz electric vehicle is tested in the harshest conditions. Imagine the possibilities – Norway’s frigid winter. The German automaker brought its driverless protoype to Oslo, a short drive from the Arctic Circle. They wanted to see how their sensors would handle extreme cold and snow-covered roads.
The goal is? The goal?
VW’s ambitions to become self-driving are centered around SAE Level 4 Technology, which offers fully autonomous operation in certain circumstances. Global adoption of the technology has been slow due to technological limitations and economics. In reality, while Level 4 vehicles are a great idea in theory they can be hampered by real-world issues like bad weather.
VW took its ID to Norway. Buzz van to Norway – to see if its sensors can withstand the brutal cold and still reliably detect road signs, lane markings, and obstacles, even when they’re obscured by snow.
The road ahead of robotaxis, autonomous ride-pooling and other technologies
Europe is lagging behind the US and China when it comes to deploying robotaxis for commercial use, despite having invested just as much in self-driving technology. What are the main roadblocks? The biggest roadblocks are strict regulations and high operating costs. You can find out more about it here. It is difficult to convince people that hiring human drivers will be better than scaling up the autonomous services.
Nonetheless, VW remains undeterred. The company is working with the fleet management firm Holo in Oslo to supervise testing, while safety drivers remain on board Now,. MOIA will launch their autonomous ride-pooling in Hamburg by 2025. They plan to start with a few users and then expand the service.
“Users of mobility services expect a comfortable, reliable, and safe mode of transport – regardless of the season and weather conditions. “This is especially true in an autonomous age”, said Sascha M. Meyer, CEO of MOIA.
Will Europe embrace robotaxis
VW’s ID will still work, even if it isn’t. Buzz has proven it can handle Arctic weather conditions. The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us. The question is: Will European cities be ready to accept driverless ride-sharing in the near future? US companies like Waymo Cruise have faced stiff opposition from US citizens who are concerned about job losses, safety and unpredictable AI behaviour. Europe might not be more welcoming.
VW’s Arctic expedition is a way to prove that its self driving vans will not be left in the cold. Will they become common on European streets in 2030 or remain a novelty by then? It is yet to be seen.
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