JLR unveils driverless electric mobility concept
20 Feb 2020
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd (JLR) on Tuesday unveiled its driverless electric vehicle concept Project Vector at Coventry on Tuesday. The concept vehicle for an autonomous, electric, connected urban mobility is slated to begin its pilot run in the UK from next year.
Developed at the UK’s National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), located at the University of Warwick, JLR’s Project Vector aims at achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion – through its products, services and across its facilities.
As the next stage, the Project Vector concept will showcase an advanced, flexible, multi-use electric vehicle that is ‘autonomy-ready’.
The compact vehicle concept is built on a flexible flat-floor platform which houses all battery and drivetrain components. The concept vehicle measures four meters in length and can accommodate different seating configurations.
The concept electric vehicle can be used for personal, shared and commercial applications such as last mile deliveries, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Jaguar Land Rover understands the trends shaping modern societies. Project Vector shows Jaguar Land Rover as a leader in innovation to make our societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner. Through this project, we are collaborating with the brightest minds in academia, supply chain and digital services, to create connected, integrated mobility systems – the fundamental building blocks for Destination Zero,” Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer, Sir Ralf Speth commented.
“Project Vector is precisely the brave and innovative leap forward needed to deliver on our mission.”
Project Vector is part of JLR’s ‘destination zero mission’, which envisions zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion, it said.
It will also address the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in our cities.
“The megatrends of urbanisation and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable. Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with and be connected to public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously. That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure, and the digital world,” Tim Leverton, project director, said.
JLR will collaborate with Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to plan a mobility service from late 2021, as a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry.
The NAIC, touted as one of Europe’s largest automotive research and development (R&D) facilities, was officially inaugurated by the Prince of Wales on Tuesday. Besides Project Vector, JLR, along with Tata Motors and the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), showcased several other mobility concepts.
The vehicles and concepts showcased included Tata Motors’ Nexon EV, the 7-seater multi-purpose vehicle Hexa with self-drive features, JLR’s prototype of self-driving Jaguar I-Pace and Land Rover Discovery ADAS (advanced driver assist systems).
“At NAIC, academics, manufacturers and suppliers will develop a smart, safe transport infrastructure that integrates autonomous vehicles and public transport; design zero emissions vehicles powered by smart-chargers and renewable energy and discover material and digital manufacturing innovations that will eliminate waste," added Speth.