Fusion Processing has partnered with Construct Invest to deploy fully autonomous electric buses for airport passenger transport.
The new vehicles leverage Fusion’s CAVstar® Automated Drive System (ADS).
The collaboration aims to offer a practical solution for airports looking to reduce operational costs and emissions, while also enhancing safety and efficiency in ground transport services.
The vehicles can operate at SAE Level 4 autonomy, meaning they are capable of full self-driving within specific operational conditions without driver input.
Airports arguably offer an ideal environment for the deployment of autonomous technologies due to their controlled nature.
Jim Hutchinson, CEO of Fusion Processing, said:Airports seek increased efficiency in their ground transportation networks as they aim to reduce their carbon footprints and realise cost savings.
We’re working in partnership with Construct Invest and can now offer airports an integrated transport solution featuring fully automated buses utilising our CAVstar® ADS to reduce costs, improve sustainability and safety, and offer a better service for passengers.
Fusion Processing’s CAVstar® ADS has already demonstrated energy efficiency benefits in passenger service trials. Over a 90,000-kilometre operational period, the system achieved a 7% reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional manual driving. The company anticipates this could rise to around 20% in urban or high-frequency stop-start environments by the end of 2025.
The autonomous buses are expected to lower operating costs for airports, with early modelling suggesting up to 30% savings. The vehicles would also see reduced wear on tyres and braking systems due to the controlled and consistent driving style of the automated system.
Furthermore, the CAVstar® system will enable the replacement of on-board drivers with remote operators overseeing multiple vehicles from a central control room. This will provide more flexibility in workforce deployment at the airport.
In addition, safety is expected to improve through the removal of human error in driving.
Karsten Baltzer, CEO of Construct Invest, said:We’re thrilled to welcome Fusion Processing into the Construct Invest’s consortium. Fusion’s CAVstar® technology is not only field-proven but also aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable and innovative transport solutions.
The partnership showcased its developments at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid from 8–10 April 2025.
