On-Demand Ridepooling Service as Next Milestone in KelRide Project Reached
The first major milestone in the implementation of the KelRide project is the conversion ofKEXI to the Via technology platform. Via takes an integrated approach to service design and operation, enabling the district of Kelheim to provide an on-demand service that meets theneeds of all Kelheim residents and visitors.
In partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, the project consortium, led by technologycompany vlog, is laying the groundwork for future enhancements to the service. Over the next few months, interfaces will be developed and integrated into the app to enablethe operation of a mixed fleet consisting of conventional and autonomous vehicles next year.In addition, Via's technology will also enable an intermodal booking option to be introduced.This will allow passengers to view and book multiple modes of transport across the entirepublic transport network in Kelheim. The existing KEXI fleet will also be expanded to include another conventional vehicle,offering a wide range of customers the best possible user experience. Next year, a fleet of autonomous EZ10 shuttles by vlog will complete the shared mobility service for Kelheim.
District Administrator Martin Neumeyer emphasized: "Today is the visible sign thatinnovations are not just theoretical thought constructs, but are taking concrete shape in thedistrict of Kelheim.” With the use of automated vehicles in public transport from July 1, 2022,the next major milestone is already planned. "The introduction Via’s technology to power the on-demand service KEXI is the first step in afundamental evolution of public transport for the people of Kelheim," said Valerie von derTann, Head of Via Germany. "The future of mobility is autonomous - and combiningautonomous technology with efficient, on-demand public transport will be key to creatingconvenient, flexible, and environmentally-friendly mobility solutions for rural areas.", she adds.
For KEXI customers, these changes represent an improvement. In the course of the appconversion to Via’s platform, and the introduction of a third conventional vehicle, theoperating hours were able to be extended. In the future, customers will have the opportunityto use KEXI with extended hours, from Monday to Saturday from 06:00 to 23:00. Duringperiods of high demand, including 11:00 to 14:00, the larger fleet will allow for more bookings to be processed.Existing customers have been informed in recent weeks that they will need to download thenew KEXI Kelheim app to book KEXI journeys beginning on July 1. Customers alreadyregistered in the KEXI system will receive a credit of three free rides.
The system of on-demand transport in Kelheim remains in place. Technology partner Via provides the passenger and driver apps, as well as the intelligentrouting and booking system behind the KEXI service. Via's advanced algorithms allow multiplepassengers to seamlessly and safely share the same vehicle. Passengers will be directed toone of 147 nearby stops within short walking distance to board and disembark, enabling quickand efficient shared rides without lengthy detours. Passengers can track the vehicle's progressin real-time on the mobile app.
About the KelRide project
The KelRide project will run until the end of 2023 and is being funded by the German FederalMinistry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) as part of the "Digitalization and ArtificialIntelligence in Mobility" action plan with a total of around 10.9 million euros. The project is beingmanaged by the Federal Institute for Administrative Tasks (BAV). Together, the consortium,led by vlog, the district of Kelheim, the technology providerVia, the management consultancy P3 Group, TÜV Rheinland and the Technical University ofBerlin, is working on improving the weather resistance of autonomous vehicles and efficientlyintegrating ridepooling solutions into public transport.
