Local Motors, the maker of a driverless shuttle called Olli, wants to bring a test pilot to the Washington region.
The company is holding a contest to find the best place to showcase its autonomous vehicle.
You may have seen the shuttle at National Harbor in Maryland. It’s a black-and-white electric vehicle with clean, rounded edges and big windows. It can hold up to eight people and move up to 25 mph, although it usually travels at less than 10 mph.Th
So far, the shuttle operates on a few college campuses and shopping districts across the U.S.
In the Washington region pilot, businesses, cities, developers, and other organizations can apply to get a test fleet to use for three months.
Applications are due by Feb. 6. The winner will be announced March 19.
Brittany Stotler, vice president of marketing for Local Motors, says some people are already suggesting places around the region.
“We’ve heard everything from Arlington National Cemetery or using Olli as a tour guide around the White House,” Stotler said. (Though those ideas might face security hurdles.)
A tech education district in Phoenix and a university in Sacramento are the most recent winners of similar contests.
“Whether it be transporting university students from class to class or providing a safe transportation service to get you from the Metro to your office, we want to provide a solution that offers the greatest impact to you,” the contest FAQ states.
But there are some restrictions.
Local Motors says it wants a partner that can work with local officials and the community to get approval. It also wants the winner to shoulder some of the costs.
The shuttle can only operate on two-lane roads with a max speed of 25 mph and those roads can’t cross higher speed roads. Walking paths will be considered as long as the vehicle can be legally allowed to operate and is deemed safe.
Have a good idea where an autonomous shuttle would fit in the region? Leave your ideas in the comments below.
This story was originally published on WAMU.
Jordan Pascale