Fusion Processing has completed the first Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV autonomous electric bus, equipped with its CAVstar automated drive system, as part of the Connector project in Cambridge. The initiative, backed by Innovate UK and led by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, involves a consortium that includes Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis, IPG Automotive, dRISK, and Gamma Energy, with funding and support from the UK Government’s Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
The bus was unveiled at Alexander Dennis’ technology hub in Farnborough and will undergo track-based testing to calibrate and optimize the CAVstar system. The system enables fully autonomous driving capabilities, and the testing phase will assess its safety, efficiency, and performance. Following this phase, the bus will move to Cambridge, where safety drivers will be trained before the launch of public services later in the year at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Executive Board, stated that the Connector project positions Cambridge as a leader in autonomous vehicle trials and reflects collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable and efficient public transport. Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering at Alexander Dennis, noted that the completion of the first Enviro100AEV marks a critical phase as the project transitions to vehicle testing, building on prior collaborations to refine autonomous technology for public transport networks.
