2getthere’s Group Rapid Transit vehicle passes desert climate test

2getthere’s Group Rapid Tansit (GRT) autonomous vehicle has proven in a simulated desert climate that it can maintain an indoor temperature of 23˚C even in the worst scenario (52˚C outside temperature and 3% humidity). The climate test took place in the Utrecht province and is one of many tests regarding the mega-order received from United Arab Emirates earlier this year. From 2020, five vehicles will perform fully autonomous shuttle services to and from Bluewater Island in Dubai.
October 26, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

8172 2getthere’s Group Rapid Tansit (GRT) autonomous vehicle has proven in a simulated desert climate that it can maintain an indoor temperature of 23˚C even in the worst scenario (52˚C outside temperature and 3% humidity). The climate test took place in the Utrecht province and is one of many tests regarding the mega-order received from United Arab Emirates earlier this year. From 2020, five vehicles will perform fully autonomous shuttle services to and from Bluewater Island in Dubai.

GRT was subject to three tests in weather conditions such as ‘hot dry’ and ‘hot humid’ with a focus on the performance of the air conditioning system (ACS) at the vehicles maximum capacity of 24 passengers.

13 ACS has been developed in collaboration with suppliers DC Airco and Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) who used the simulation of heat management in relation to airflow within the vehicle in its design of the air conditioning. Its development has been partly financed through a 2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology research grant in which DC Airco and 2getthere have both participated.

The simulated weather conditions included extremely high temperatures and sun radiation with average peaks in the sun radiation of 1,040 Watts per square metre and peaks in temperature of 52˚C around 3.30pm. In the climatic chamber, both peaks were simulated at the same time.

The GRT’s 16 standing passengers represented 120 Watts each and eight seated passengers each represented 100 Watts were simulated by placing a 3000-Watt heat source inside the vehicle. Part of the test focused on performance during transition: the speed at which indoor conditions are brought back to the most comfortable level for passengers after the doors close and the vehicle starts its journey. The most extreme test was based on the vehicle standing still with the doors open for six minutes, but in actual circumstances much shorter stops will be sufficient to allow 24 passengers to enter the vehicle and find their seats.

According to 2getthere the test marks another step towards the operational deployment of the system, scheduled for 2019/2020.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • PTV Group develop mobility concept as part of RegioMove project
    December 15, 2017
    As part of the RegioMove project, PTV Group (PTV) will model Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) offerings, evaluate new operating strategies such as ride pooling, provide technology for the multimodal information system and plan the design of mobility stations (Ports), in Karlsruhe, Germany. The €5m (£4.3m) plan aims to lay the foundation for the development of a multimodal transport network, including technology and infrastructure. RegioMove has been commissioned by Karlsruhe Verkehrsverbund (KVV) and funded
    Read More
  • Potters debuts safety barrier marking system at Intertraffic
    February 6, 2014
    There will be celebrations aplenty on the Potters stand during Intertraffic Amsterdam 2014. One of the world’s largest glass bead manufacturers, the company, with 25 plants in the USA and Canada, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, will celebrate its first century in business. But even with 100 years of research, innovation, technical and commercial development behind it, Potters certainly won’t be resting on its laurels. At Intertraffic, the company will be celebrating a range of innovative new prod
    Read More
  • Section speed enforcements gains global converts
    October 26, 2017
    As the benefits of section speed enforcement are becoming clearer, the technology is gaining converts worldwide. Colin Sowman reports. America’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for urgent action from both road authorities and the federal government to combat speeding which has been identified as one of the most common factors in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. This new call follows the publication of a safety study which found that between 2005 through 2014, 31% of all
    Read More
  • Dubai RTA and Amazon Web Services do cloud deal
    February 12, 2024
    Digitisation and more use of AI are among key drivers behind new partnership in UAE
    Read More

Highlighted Content