Vicinity Motor to Publicly Deploy First Lightning Transit Autonomous Electric Bus

Commercial electric vehicle provider Vicinity Motor Corp. will publicly deploy the first autonomous electric bus, the Vicinity Lightning Electric Transit Bus, in partnership with automated driving software platform provider ADASTEC Corp., at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, beginning service on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.

The deployment was announced by Michigan Governor Garlin Gilchrist during a kickoff event at the Michigan State Capitol. With the help of a National Park Service Mobility Challenge Program grant, ADASTEC and Vicinity will deploy an automated, electric, low-floor, accessible transit bus that will transport passengers on a 4.1-mile route on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The federally funded deployment is designed to test how the next generation of automated bus technology works in outdoor recreation settings. The vehicle will be available for public use and is free to passengers with a seven-day, annual or lifetime NPS pass during the deployment period.

The partnership combines Vicinity’s expertise in medium-duty, accessible, fully electrified low-floor transit vehicles with ADASTEC’s SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform, flowride.ai. Vicinity’s automated transit buses can respond in real time to changing passenger needs with capabilities such as flexible routing and dynamic scheduling. This initial deployment aims to demonstrate how automated, electric transit buses can improve road safety and reduce congestion in high-traffic areas.

“We at Vicinity Motor are absolutely thrilled to have the Vicinity Lightning autonomous bus in federally funded service in such a prominent role, representing what we believe could be the future of public transportation,” said Brent Phillips, Vicinity CEO. “I would like to thank our valued automation partners at ADASTEC, whose advanced automated driving software platform enables our first SAE Level-4 automated bus deployments like this one.”

“We are proud to partner with Vicinity Motor Corp. and the National Park Service to deploy our SAE Level-4 automated driving software, flowride.ai, at the iconic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,” added Dr. Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC. “These are the first FMVSS-compliant automated buses and their deployment is intended to demonstrate how automated transportation can improve safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability in public transportation.”