INITIAL PROJECTS
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
The Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership (GAVP) has committed up to $2 million to Greenville "as a pilot site for the research, development, testing and deployment of multi-modal for testing autonomous vehicles in a three-phase program."
Robotic Research, LLC (RR) will deploy two autonomous electric vehicles that have recently been deployed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. As the initial A-Taxi partner, RR has committed two vehicles and more than $500,000 for staff and technology development on the project.
PHASE ZERO
DEPLOY THE FIRST A-TAXIS AT CU-ICAR
- Two A-Taxis deploy at CU-ICAR for initial tests and then will provide shuttle service to students and faculty between CU-ICAR and the Center for Manufacturing (CMI) along Millennium Boulevard.
Press conference video- Additional mapping on Millennium Boulevard will extend route to Hubbell Lighting, TD Regional Banking Center, an apartment complex, two hotels, a restaurant and the Whole Foods shopping center.
PHASE ONE
VALIDATE THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE BUSINESS MODEL
- Test model in the Verdae community (upscale residential, retirement, and commercial area with 10,000 residents).
- Manufacturing Partners to deploy 2 to 6 larger autonomous vehicles on fixed and variable routes throughout community.
- Verdae management has committed $1 million to build community mobility center that links A-Taxi routes with multi-modal transport options.
- City and county have committed over $3 million to extend the Swamp Rabbit Trail from downtown to CU-ICAR. Last year, the 16-mile trail saw 600,000+ walkers and bicyclists.
PHASE TWO
ADDRESS TWO NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS:
EMS: Partner with Greenville County EMS to provide non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to disabled, elderly, low-income and other transport-disadvantaged people.
- Vehicles will be deployed in the Parker Census Tract, one of the 10 poorest census tracts in the United States.
Last/First Mile: Address the Last/First Mile problem (major challenge for US transportation systems in low-density areas) by deploying in the Parker Tract. In this area, many residents can't afford a car, but bus stops to work, school, medical clinics, grocery stores, etc. are out of walking distance. The average per capita income in this are is less than $20,000 per year.
Electric Vehicles & Charging Stations
Existing Projects
- 2012: General Electric helped build 51 electric vehicle charging stations around Greenville County
- 2013: Proterra started building electric buses in Greenville
- 2015: ITIC built two autonomous vehicle test areas. The center is also working on projects for developing wireless charging infrastructure.
- Duke Energy serves the Upstate power through three 1,000MW reactors iat Oconee Nuclear Station. Reactor output is relatively constant and could be used to fuel electric cars in home garages.
VW Electrify America Inititative
Greenville County has applied for a $2.4 million grant from VW's Electrify America initiative. The grant would fund the installation of charging stations, purchase of fast-charge stations for high-traffic corridors and to engage local dealers (pictured) to showcase electric and autonomous vehicles.
Intersate-85 bisects Greenville County and carries more than 100,000 cars and trucks per day between Atlanta and Charlotte.
Greenville-based Spinx Co. has offered several of their gas stations and convenience store sites as locations for charging stations.
Digital Infrastructure
Greenville County has applied for a $4 million grant from USDOT for innovative approaches to congestion management. This grant is matched by local prvate and public funds.
CU-ICAR is currently working with a number of Israeili companies on digital infrastructure. The systems include various approaches to vehicle autonomy, congestion management and adaptive traffic signal systems. CU-ICAR and the City of Greenville have approached several of these companies to conduct trials in Greenville.
Global Mobility Startup Network
CA4I is partnering with Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) to promote the mobility start-up community in the Greenville area.
In close partnership with CU-ICAR, globally and locally-based start-ups are engaged and connected to each other for purpose of inspiring relevant mobility solutions.
Innovation Summit
CA4I is partnering with major universities, SCRA and the SC Department of Commerce to deliver an Innovation Summit on November 1 2022 at the University Center in Greenville. Our goal is to connect people with experience and resources to promote state wide Innovation.