COAST Autonomous announced recently that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DG Cities, an expert in smart city development that is a subsidiary of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London.
DG Cities and COAST will work together to provide consultancy services related to the design and implementation of transportation for people and/or goods using Autonomous Vehicles. COAST and DG Cities’ complementary skills will offer cities a path to a sustainable and more livable future. This includes the four pillars of an integrated framework approach, to design:
1) spatial planning and the strategic design of the built environment;
2) digital infrastructure and new technologies;
3) new mobility services; and
4) future vehicles.
“Electric shared AVs create the opportunity for cities to reinvent their environments and make them more liveable,” said Trevor Dorling, DG Cities, managing director. “Reducing the number of cars in urban centers will deliver many benefits and opportunities: improving air quality, allowing roads to be replaced with landscaping and car parks to be repurposed. We are excited to partner with COAST, as we share the same vision for cities, which the global discussion on air pollution and climate change is making more critical than ever. COAST’s unique technology, practical approach and ambition present a real opportunity to accelerate the take-up of autonomous vehicles and deliver benefits for cities and their citizens. Technology itself is not enough, and our expertise in smart city integration and design, alongside COAST’s capabilities in self-driving vehicles for urban environments, means we can offer a full service to clients looking to achieve meaningful impact.”
“We have been aware of DG Cities’ work in this area for some time. Their focus on cities and people aligns closely with our belief that autonomous vehicles must deliver real benefits for cities and their citizens,” said COAST CTO Pierre Lefevre. “Through our partnership, we are able to offer clients our world-leading technology and vehicles, alongside expert advice on how to utilize the technology to best address city needs. We are looking forward to working with DG Cities to identify exciting deployment opportunities and explaining to cities around the world how they can replace cars with COnnected Autonomous Shared Transportation and start to COAST!”