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Photo: Volvotrucks

The autonomous vehicle without a cab starts working in the port of Gothenburg

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21.06.2019

Vera, Volvo’s surprising invention, presented in September last year, is about to start working in the Swedish port. It will transport goods between the logistics centre and the port terminals in Gothenburg.

Vera is an autonomous electric vehicle that can operate with much lower exhaust emissions and noise levels than conventional trucks. It’s not the only thing that makes the new Volvo different from regular trucks. Vera does not have a cab. Soon the vehicle will be used by DFDS, a ferry and logistics operator, to transport goods between warehouses and AMP terminals at the port of Gothenburg.

The aim of the partnership between Volvo and DFDS is to create a system for the continuous flow of goods from the DFDS logistics centre to the port terminal and further distribution around the world. Vera will help with this.

Facts:

  • The assignment is to move containers from the DFDS logistics centre in Gothenburg to an APM terminals container terminal according to needed capacity.
  • The autonomous system is monitored by an operator in a control tower who is also responsible for the transport.
  • The solution is suited for repetitive flows with a maximum speed of 40 km/h.
  • Infrastructure adaptations are part of the scope in the implementation of the total transport system, including automated gates at the terminals.
  • Volvo Trucks and DFDS are main partners but several actors are involved in implementing Vera’s first assignment.
  • DFDS provides ferry and transport services in Europe and Turkey, generating annual revenues of around DKK 17bn. The 8.000 employees are located on ships and in offices across 20 countries. DFDS is headquartered in Copenhagen and listed on NASDAQ Copenhagen.
  • APM Terminals is a port service and container terminal solution provider, operating a network of 76 ports globally. APM Terminals is a part of A.P. Moller – Maersk, an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify its customer’s supply chains, operating in 130 countries and employs roughly 70.000 employees.
  • The initiative is carried out with support from the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova, the Swedish Transport Administration and the Swedish Energy Agency through the Strategic vehicle research and innovation programme FFI.

Photo: Volvotrucks

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