Guernsey Press

Driverless electric buses could be trialled on Alderney roads

ALDERNEY could become a testing ground for electric driverless vehicles before they are launched in Guernsey.

Published
Thanks to its simple layout of comparatively wide roads and lack of heavy traffic, driverless electric vehicles could be coming to Alderney. (Picture montage by Peter Frankland, 21096761)

A director of St Peter Port-based firm Shuttlebuzz, whose aim is to create a driverless public transport system on public roads in Guernsey, visited Alderney this month.

Jenny Ozanne was invited to the island by the Chamber of Commerce to discuss informally the company’s vision with States members.

Automated transport is already used in large enclosed spaces where there are no other vehicles, such as university campuses.

But research and development is ongoing to create driverless minibuses which can navigate around obstacles, such as would be needed on a public road.

With the support of the Chamber of Commerce, Shuttlebuzz wants to investigate the possibility of manufacturers using some of Alderney’s quieter roads as test routes for driverless transport.

The aim, once it was brought to market, would be eventually to roll out driverless public transport in Alderney, as well as in Guernsey.

Shuttlebuzz would buy or hire the vehicles from the manufacturers that it is working with, both based in France, and they could provide transport from the harbour up to town and back again.

Chamber thinks the testing – and ideally eventually the roll-out of the transport system – could help showcase Alderney as an island for innovation.

Ms Ozanne explained that the vehicles had basic functionality in that they could run on a pre-set route that was dedicated to their use. But when they encountered an obstacle, they stopped until the obstacle was moved.

The next step is for the vehicles to navigate safely around any obstacles. If testing came to Alderney, an engineer-cum-driver sent by the manufacturer would be in the vehicle to take over when required.

So why Alderney?

‘The advantage to testing in Alderney is that it has fairly wide roads without much traffic, filters or roundabouts and visibility is very good,’ said Ms Ozanne.

‘The other advantage is Alderney’s self-government. Although there may be similar places in France, there are many more obstacles for the manufacturers to overcome in terms of red tape.’

Ms Ozanne said if the plan gained favour, she envisaged the States of Alderney instigating a licensing system to ensure it had control of what was tested and when.

Andrew Eggleston, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said it thought Shuttlebuzz could bring something different to Alderney. ‘Alderney could prove to be a perfect test bed for such a vehicle with its more open and peaceful roads along with the lack of traffic lights, roundabouts and Guernsey’s infamous narrow lanes.

‘The introduction of such a vehicle to connect people say between the harbour, town and airport could really prove a most fascinating attraction for tourism and our economy as a whole in all its facets.

‘Chamber really sees this as an exciting opportunity which could well prove positive for the island.’

States member Tony Barnes, who has responsibility for roads, said it was an interesting proposition worthy of discussion. ‘There are many practical, technological and regulatory issues to be overcome before Alderney could ever be used in this way, but we will keep the lines of communication open with Shuttlebuzz.’