Autonomous driving: Hanover gets first self-driving bus

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From the third quarter of 2025, a self-driving regular-service bus is to gain experience in real road traffic in the Hanover region. The project, which was approved in 2017, now has all the necessary permits and, of course, a suitable vehicle.

The idea behind it is to enable the mobility turnaround with autonomous vehicles in public transport, including outside the urban area, with a regular service around the clock. The project is therefore called “albus”, as in “autonomous public bus”. In order for the autonomous bus to be allowed to drive, albus needed a test permit from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). It has been available since May 13 and operations are set to begin as soon as possible.

Initially, only test drives

However, test drives are required before real test operation can begin. With the data that the vehicle learns about its future route and its surroundings on these trips, it should later be able to navigate with high precision. In addition, the bus must, of course, be able to recognize road users in its surroundings in real time and take them into account accordingly. After the extensive test and measurement drives, it should be possible to register for a ride in the third quarter of 2025. People of legal age can register via the Üstra website using a personalized QR code or on paper. Üstra intends to make the form available “shortly”. Trips during the test operation in the first project phase are free of charge. The bus has a ramp and is accessible for people with limited mobility. The staff on board will provide assistance with boarding and alighting if required.

The vehicle runs on an Üstra route independently of the regular service along bus route 906 in Burgdorf. This route runs for around seven kilometers through the city and must be able to run at speeds of up to 40 km/h in regular mixed traffic. There are 13 bus stops, ten traffic light junctions, traffic circles and crosswalks along the route.

The only project of this size in Germany

“I am delighted that we here in the Hannover Region are once again leading the way in Germany when it comes to public transport innovation. We recently proved that we can do this with the sprinti. Now we are continuing with the albus project. No other project in Germany is putting an autonomous bus of this size on the road,” says Regional President Steffen Krach. In fact, albus is the first public service bus project in Germany. An identical vehicle is in regular public transport service in Stavanger (Norway), while Finland, Michigan (USA), Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are also testing autonomous public transport with this model.

An electrically powered bus with 22 seats and a range of up to 300 kilometers from the manufacturer Karsan Otomotiv Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş., based in Bursa, Turkey, is being used. The “Karsan autonomous e-ATAK” model was equipped with sensors, hardware, and software for automated operation by project partner Adastec. As usual, the data is provided by LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic and infrared sensors as well as GNSS to enable precise positioning and environmental awareness. This enables the vehicle to react to changes on the road and the behavior of road users in real time. In addition, a driver can intervene in the controls at any time.

Technical supervision on board

The vehicle should be capable of level 4 autonomy and thus be able to control a vehicle in a defined operating area at all times. In an emergency, the control system automatically brings the bus into a so-called risk-minimized state. The vehicles would therefore only need to be monitored remotely by a technical supervisor. However, with the approval that albus has received, technical supervision must still take place in the vehicle.

Denise Hain, ÜSTRA Board Member and Labor Director, is trying to counter fears that the autonomy of scheduled bus services could be harming staff: “The backbone of ÜSTRA remains our drivers, who are passionate about driving buses and streetcars. This will not change in the coming years. Once the technology is fully developed, autonomous driving can be a piece of the puzzle to ease the burden.”

The Hannover Region is managing the project as the public transport authority. It is operated by ÜSTRA. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) with around 3.7 million euros until mid-2027 based on a decision by the German Bundestag and will be continuously developed further. The aim of the first project phase is to successfully test the system in Burgdorf. Following the successful test operation, up to three autonomous vehicles are to be integrated into regular public transport operations in the Hannover region in the second project phase.

(fpi)