The first Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV destined for the Cambridge Connector autonomous bus trial has been completed.
The bus, which is loaded with Fusion Processing’s CAVStar automated drive system, will enter track-based testing ahead of delivery to Cambridge.
Following further testing and driver training, the vehicle will enter public service at Cambridge Biomedical Campus – expected by the end of September 2025.
The project is led by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) and funded by Innovate UK.
Other partners include IPG Automotive, dRISK and Gamma Energy. However, GCP has confirmed that, following Stagecoach’s withdrawal from the project, it is seeking to work with another operator.
The bus, which will form part of a three-strong fleet owned by Mistral Group and leased to GCP, was unveiled this week at Alexander Dennis’s technology hub in Farnborough.
Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts and Advanced Engineering for Alexander Dennis, says: “The completion of the first Enviro100AEV is a great milestone for the Connector project as we now enter a phase of vehicle testing to ready the technology for public services.
“This builds on the substantial work we have done with Fusion Processing and other partners in similar projects to further refine this technology as we continue to explore use cases where autonomous buses can improve operational efficiency and add flexibility to transport networks.”
Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, adds: “Connector will see autonomous vehicles being trialled on our city’s roads to investigate their potential to transform the way people travel.
“This is a significant opportunity for Cambridge to lead the way in innovation, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient ways to get to where people need to go.
“Seeing the first vehicle arrive and be ready for testing is a testament to the collaborative efforts of everyone involved with the consortium and I look forward to seeing how this technology can potentially shape the future of public transport.”
