Cabless autonomous electric truck approved for US public roads

With NHTSA approval for driving on public roads in the bag, Einride’s cabless autonomous electric Pod will begin pilot operations at a GE Appliances manufacturing facility in the US from Q3 2022. Einride

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By Paul Ridden

2022 Jun 27

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Freight technology company Einride first introduced its cabless autonomous electric T-pod truck back in 2017, which rolled on Swedish roads for the first time a couple of years later. Now the company has been given the green light for operation on public roads in the US.

A number of autonomous trucks have already rolled along public roads in US pilots, with these test vehicles have either a safety driver in the cab to take over should issues arise or have been accompanied by a mobile support team.

In what Einride claims is a first, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved its purpose-built autonomous electric vehicle to operate on public roads in the US, and there’ll be no driver in the cab as the Einride Pod doesn’t have a cab.

The battery-electric Pod makes use of an onboard sensor suite comprising cameras, radars and LiDARs and will be monitored remotely by a human operator – which the company notes is “critical in safely scaling autonomous vehicles by keeping humans in the loop and creating jobs to fulfill a future way of shipping.”

The Einride Pod will haul goods between warehouses, taking in public roads and mixed traffic situations as it goes — –

The public road pilot is due to start in Q3 of this year, where the vehicle will merge with existing fleet operations at a GE Appliances manufacturing facility and is expected to move goods between warehouses and operate on public roads in mixed traffic.

“We are creating a more sustainable and efficient supply chain through increased electrification and automation in our manufacturing and distribution operations,” said GE Appliances’ VP of Supply Chain, Bill Good. “We’ve appreciated working with Einride in demonstrating how their Pod technology can help us accelerate achievement of that goal.”

Source: Einride
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Tags

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Automotive Einride Electric truck Autonomous Vehicles Electric Vehicles
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Paul Ridden

While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won’t say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.
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4 comments

dan – 2022 Jun 27 – 07:46 AM

I mean technically, but in reality these are what would be considered service roads. Extremely low traffic, primarily owned by GE and other industries near.

paul314 – 2022 Jun 27 – 11:34 AM

Remote safety drive is likely one heck of a stressful job. Don’t do anything, but concentrate fully. and know that even a second or two of inattention could kill someone. I wonder what they do when the wifi is down?

Pupp1 – 2022 Jun 27 – 01:22 PM

I imagine the remote safety monitors will have multiple vehicles to monitor at once. So, I hope they are not going to be set loose on public streets. As paul314 points out, going to be a challenge to keep attention. When you are personally in a vehicle, your attitude towards safety has a strong connection to your own life, and there can be enjoyment in driving itself. Two things that will not be there when you are behind a desk with multiple vehicles to monitor.

TedTheJackal – 2022 Jun 27 – 05:44 PM

I want to see one of these get pulled over by an autonomous police car that makes it take a RAM test.

[Editor’s Note: What could possibly go wrong with this plan…?!]
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