From 3 to 18 August 2024, the Chair on Autonomous Territories and Shuttles is conducting a trial of an autonomous shuttle in Valberg. The launch of the trial took place on the occasion of Sustainable Resort Day, in the presence of Charles-Ange Ginésy, President of the Department of Alpes-Maritimes and Mayor of Péone, and Jean-Paul David, Mayor of Guillaumes.

Autonomous vehicle use case experimentation at Valberg station

The Alpes-Maritimes Department is committing to an intelligent «four-season» mountain resort approach by trialling an autonomous shuttle in Valberg, in partnership with the IMREDD and the Intercommunal Syndicate. This experiment aims to demonstrate that the autonomous electric vehicle meets real needs and contributes to sustainable development by improving economic access, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offering new social services, and validating technologies for large-scale deployment.

The experiment will take place on roads open to public traffic in Valberg. For two weeks during the summer season, starting on Sustainable Resort Day on August 3rd and continuing until August 16th (except on Wednesdays), the autonomous shuttle will connect the village of Valberg to the sports park, the skate park, and the Vallee Blanche, allowing the many users to test this mode of transport.

The overall objective of the experiment is to test an autonomous mobility service in a mountainous environment. The aim is to propose an innovative, territory-adapted, and environmentally friendly mobility solution, and to test its adoption and sustainability, in terms of both acceptability and economic model. The goal is to test an autonomous mobility solution on a full scale, to complement the public transport offering proposed by the Valberg resort's transport network.

The objectives to be achieved are as follows:

• Experimenting with a disruptive technological solution in «real-world conditions»: the automation of shared transport vehicles in a mountainous and complex environment.
• Diversify the transport offer in the resort.
• Propose a new user experience.
• Testing new mobility uses with a semi-captive clientele, particularly tourists and seasonal workers.
• Identify the conditions for adoption and the factors for success in replicating a viable model within the territory and beyond.