Karsan’s Autonomous e-ATAK has become the first autonomous public transport bus to receive full approval from KBA (Kraftfahrt Bundesamt – Federal Motor Transport Authority) – Germany’s official institution responsible for road traffic regulations.
The approval marks the Level-4 automated vehicle as the first autonomous bus permitted to operate on public roads in Hannover, Germany, as part of the Albus Project.
Following its certification, the e-ATAK will begin operation on a 7-kilometre route along line 906 in Burgdorf, a section of public road that features 10 traffic lights, 13 stops, intersections and pedestrian crossings, at a constant speed of 40km/h.
Commenting on the subject, Karsan CEO Okan Baş said:As the pioneering brand leading the transformation of autonomous public transport, we are moving forward with a structure that not only adapts but also sets standards in this field.
Entering the field with Autonomous e-ATAK in one of the markets with the strictest regulations, such as Germany, demonstrates not only our technical competence but also our visionary approach. Our Level-4 autonomous full-size bus, which will start serving on public roads in Germany, symbolises Karsan's determination in the mobility transformation in Europe.
This success, which we have achieved together with our technology partner ADASTEC, is a strong indicator that our competence in software and automotive engineering is recognised even in the most advanced markets of Europe.
Karsan’s e-ATAK unit utilises a combination of LiDAR, RGB Cameras, GNSS and RADAR in order to navigate a number of driving situations without a physical driver on-board. The vehicle is powered by a 220 kWh battery pack, measuring in at 8.3 metres in length and featuring a full charge time of 5 hours with AC units.
