GAUSSIN and Hynamics, an EDF subsidiary, have signed a partnership agreement for the implementation of four pilot projects by the end of 2021, demonstrating the efficiency and productivity of Gaussin’s fully autonomous and “dual energy” transportation solutions, which run on hydrogen and electricity.
The project’s goal is to reduce traffic congestion at the target location during business hours. Currently, the vast majority of short-distance transportation is done during the day by a large number of diesel trucks, which contribute to road traffic congestion in addition to polluting the environment. Gaussin has developed a unique and comprehensive solution codenamed “Moonroad” in response to this situation, which is based on the following principles:
- A self-driving cabless road tractor with electric and hydrogen propulsion capable of towing semi-trailers weighing up to 44 tons and moving at a controlled speed to complete short-haul transports. This allows for safe, silent transportation while only using a small amount of hydrogen… in other words, it’s both environmentally and economically friendly. This tractor is based on the Gaussin “skateboard” that was unveiled to the general public on April 27.
- Due to the vehicle’s characteristics, it can be used for nighttime transportation to alleviate daytime traffic while causing minimal disruption to local residents.
- A Transport as a Service (TaaS) solution that provides a true transport-on-demand service to the end customer.
Gaussin and Hynamics will conduct four pilot projects to demonstrate the solution’s efficiency, performance, and productivity in an all-hydrogen ecosystem. Gaussin will provide its unique Transport as a Service solution based on its autonomous hydrogen vehicle, while Hynamics will provide the hydrogen for the four projects. The goal is to use Gaussin’s hydrogen trucks to transport hydrogen containers from Hynamics’ production sites to Hynamics’ distribution sites.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition in Charge of Transportation, which has established specific authorization procedures for autonomous vehicle tests, is supporting the realization of this type of pilot project. This partnership will allow four pilot projects to be carried out around the Hynamics sites in Moret-sur-Loing, Belfort, and Paris, as well as a site currently being defined, from the end of 2021 to the end of 2023, with an eye toward the 2024 Olympic Games.
