HOLON, a subsidiary of German automotive parts supplier Benteler Group, recently applied to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for an exemption from the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The exemption will allow HOLON to deploy up to 2,500 driverless electric buses in the United States each year, which will not be equipped with traditional driver controls such as pedals, manual turn signals and rearview mirrors.
According to the application, these driverless electric buses are designed to not require human intervention or driver operation, so there are significant differences from the safety standards of traditional cars. Specifically, these buses will not have traditional driving seats, brake pedals, accelerator pedals and rearview mirrors, but will ensure safe driving through advanced autonomous driving technology and sensor systems.
HOLON said that this innovation will promote the modernization of public transportation systems, especially for short-distance travel between and within cities. Driverless electric buses can reduce the risk of traffic accidents caused by human driving errors, while reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions, which is in line with the development trend of green travel.