NEVS launches PONS – a mobility ecosystem with autonomous vehicles for city needs

Automotive innovation technology

​NEVS has developed PONS because cities all over the world, clogged by pollution and traffic, want to do whatever they can to reduce the use of cars. There are 1.3 billion cars in the world today, but they are used only 5% of the time.

In parallel with the problem of pollution and traffic increasing, the development of technology for self-driving vehicles is being pushed forward by niche software companies aiming to create more sustainable and traffic-optimized cities

NEVS believes there is no reason to own an autonomous vehicle because it can pick the passengers up from wherever they are and take them wherever they want to go in the city, at a fair price. At the same time, they don't have to worry about parking, refuelling, service or running costs.

​"We started by looking at why urban citizens have such strong desire to use their own cars rather than public transport, even if it means sitting in traffic jams for hours each day. The reason is privacy - in your own car you feel safe, secure, relaxed and free," says Anna Haupt, VP Mobility Solutions at NEVS.
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With that as a starting point, NEVS began to develop a completely new vehicle: NEVS Sango, which is ready to be integrated with any of the self-driving software systems available. 

One solution is Sango's flexible interior which meets differing travel needs with three settings - private, social and family. Depending on which setting is selected, up to six people can travel in the vehicle.

​Sango has six movable seats in three rows and is fitted with privacy walls that can be raised and lowered. When raised, the vehicle is divided into four smaller areas for private journeys for up to four people. In social setting, the dividing walls are lowered to allow four people to travel together facing each other. In family setting, up to six people, seated in three rows, can travel comfortable together.
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As well as the Sango vehicle, the PONS mobility system also comprises a user interface in the form of an app and a fleet management system which monitors and optimizes the fleet of vehicles when it is operating throughout the city.

The next step for NEVS is a pilot in Stockholm where a fleet of around ten autonomous vehicles, known as robotaxis, will be used by the public. ​The first built version of Sango is currently being test-driven at the NEVS’ site in Trollhättan together with functional tests of the PONS mobility ecosystem.