Mobility of the future –in the age of AI
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We are ready for tomorrow’s mobility. We are working with the state of Berlin to rethink the capital city’s public mobility in the coming years, by optimizing and developing a new transport system with the help of AI and digitalization.
In doing so, we are making Berlin a role model for smart and digital mobility and utilizing the potential of our city. As a public transport company, we are already ensuring that Berlin keeps moving. Our vision is to design a fully comprehensive mobility service that is both innovative and sustainable – with a competitive and state-of-the-art service.
This requires big plans, sufficient time and a bit of patience. The BVG is ready and has its goal clearly in sight.
Autonomous driving
When you imagine the future, autonomous driving is no longer purely science fictional. The once-seeming futuristic vision of autonomous driving has become a reality for us.
We are currently gaining experience in this field through a pilot project using autonomous vehicles as part of the public transport service. For this purpose, the BVG has signed a memorandum of understanding with the company Moia. As part of the project, self-driving shuttles of automation level 4 will be used from 2025, with a focus on the northwest of Berlin.
In 2018, the BVG used vehicles without drivers for the first time, but with an accompanying person on board, on two campuses of the Berlin Charité as part of the "STIMULATE" pilot project.
One year later, it went on the road on the private grounds of the Charité: From August 2019 to January 2020, a driverless minibus commuted on the "See-Meile" between the terminus of the U6 and the promenade of Lake Tegel. In this project, the use of a highly automated vehicle in Berlin's public streets was tested for the first time. Due to the consistently positive impressions and feedback, the area was connected again through a follow-up project from June 2021 to June 2022 with a total of three highly automated minibuses. In addition, a new line was established, which also connected the Tegel S-Bahn station.
Our most recent project ran until June 2024. Here, the use and monitoring of the operation of fully automated, driverless vehicles from a control center was tested for the first time. The study area was the Urban Tech Republic on the former airport site in Tegel.
More on this:
AI system for connected mobility | Digital test field for urban transport in Berlin (in German)
Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC)
The constantly growing population in Berlin not only begets the diversity and variety for which the city is known but also increases the daily number of passengers. We have a solution to prevent fuller vehicles that at the same time create innovative capacity: Communication-Based Train Control, or CBTC for short.
With the clearly formulated goal of enabling greater availability on the existing network, the use of modern, globally used train-protection technology is essential. This makes driving operations more flexible and reliable. We are looking forward to a partially automated, more frequent service, which will also help us to plan more flexibly during building works and without rail-replacement services.
Modern infrastructure
The BVG builds, renews and repairs. Our network is continuously being developed and improved. Our goal is to offer not only the best mobility, but also the most modern infrastructure. For example, after the extension of the U5, the U3 line will forge a new path. The extension of the U8 to the Märkisches Viertel is not far away either.
More about these and other planned construction projects:
Built from love (in German)
JELBI – Many roads lead home
Jelbi is the Swiss Army knife of mobility apps – one for all, so to speak. Whether you need a bus, train, scooter, bike, car or taxi. In collaboration with many different partners, Jelbi takes urban mobility beyond traditional public transport. With around 65,000 vehicles and almost 300 Jelbi points and stations, the mobility app offers public transport and sharing options for Berlin, all bundled under one roof. Via the Jelbi mobility platform, the BVG connects various mobility options in the city.
More on this:
JELBI – One for all