If Verne Mobility's vision becomes a reality, the city's waterways will be transformed. At that time, self-driving electric water taxis and ferries will gracefully transport pedestrians and goods from one side of the coast to the other. And those traditional buses, trucks, delivery vans and cars, can only helplessly watch the traffic jam along the river. This transportation revolution will make water transportation the new favorite of the city, showing a different kind of charm and vitality.
Transportation of passengers and small cargo
According to the company, road transport costs increased by 13% in 2022, a figure that makes people think deeply. City dwellers spend three years of their lives in traffic jams. Verne's goal is to alleviate these and other urban issues, such as the health effects of diesel polluted air, by providing an electric ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) powered by AI software.
At the heart of the concept is the 7.5 m (24 ft) long, 3.2 m (1.5 ft) wide, 2.5 m high aluminium catamaran hull with a total weight of 2.2 tonnes. It is designed to be flexible and can be modified and customized according to needs, whether it is carrying passengers or transporting cargo.
In terms of powertrain, it is equipped with a 50 kW (≈65 hp) electric motor and thruster fast charging function from MPower Technology. In terms of speed, the ASV is free to fly in the range of 5-25 knots, and the passenger version can accommodate up to 10 people and 1 crew member with a range of 50 nautical miles. The draft is only 0.6 meters, which means that it can easily navigate a variety of water environments without restrictions.
Artificial intelligence will shine in the field of scheduling, whether it is to provide convenient travel services for passengers or to create an efficient logistics system for goods. The company aims to have a series of stations along the river in cities such as Amsterdam and Bangkok, which will make route adjustments easy and demand response more flexible. Through the precise scheduling of artificial intelligence, a near-"zero error" punctual system will come into being, so that people do not need to worry about the anxiety of waiting every time they travel, because the waiting time for the next departure will always be locked within a few minutes.
With the rise of e-commerce, the demand for the distribution of small goods is increasing. However, traditional delivery services are often overwhelmed in the face of urban traffic congestion. Fortunately, the application of artificial intelligence in the field of freight transportation provides a solution to this problem. This change has undoubtedly brought good news to the delivery service, and also made people feel the charm of water technology while enjoying convenient shopping.
Cost-effective
The autonomy of the Verne fleet, thanks to cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology, advanced lidar and other perception sensors feed data to a central decision-making algorithm that learns more and improves the efficiency and safety of all vessels when any ship goes to sea on any route.
All of this contributes to cost efficiency. By reducing energy consumption, shortening travel times, and optimizing operational efficiency, the system provides a sustainable and affordable transportation solution for operators and passengers.
Unlike many other systems, Verne's idea is a modular approach. Whether it's a private company or a city government-owned and operated project, Verne can start with a single vessel and build more stations and boats as needed, gradually expanding into a vast network of water transportation.
Created by leading Polish designers and engineers, this self-driving electric water taxi combines an all-electric drive with an efficient thermal system that not only charges automatically, but also has built-in solar panels for all-weather unmanned operation.
Co-founder Sławomir J. Chodor said Verne offers businesses "a new opportunity to build an innovative mobile water transport platform that will bring new business opportunities to alternative fuels for water transport." ”
Huge electric water taxi market
Whether it's Verne's solution or something else, urban water transport is a huge and growing opportunity for electric boats. Hydrofoil pioneer Candela unveiled their first P-12 water taxi in Stockholm last fall, with one of the P-12 lines set to enter service in the city's local transport system later in 2024.
Also in Stockholm, Zeabuz launched the world's first commercial automatic passenger ferry in June last year. Lisbon plans to operate 10 electric passenger ferries, the first of which is already operational. In Bangkok, the German Torqeedo electric engine has been used to power riverside boats.
Ireland's Artemis Technologies, the winner of the 2023 Gussie Commercial Passenger Boat Electric Boat Awards, is poised to launch their EF-24 high-speed hydrofoil e-ferry in 2024. The 2022 Gussies winner, Kochi Metro, will soon have 78 electrified vessels serving Indian cities.
Cities are calling for new solutions, and companies like Verne are ready to lend a hand with enthusiasm and enthusiasm. As Chodor said, "I sincerely hope that this proposal will serve as a bridge between developed and developing cities to work together on climate goals, to ensure that global mobility in water cities is no longer overlooked, and that we are moving towards a greener, more sustainable future." ”