Via GCC:
Autonomous vehicle testing beginning at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/02/20180223-miramar.htmlFederal, state and local government stakeholders along with industry representatives met to discuss regional and Marine Corps autonomous vehicle proving grounds, to watch autonomous vehicles begin testing, and to tour the installation at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar (located near San Diego) earlier this week.
The representatives came from the San Diego Association of Governments, California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Department of Transportation, California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSCPAC), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and MCAS Miramar. . . .
Two routes on the air station, a “rural” and “urban” route, will provide opportunities for stakeholders to initiate autonomous vehicle testing and development projects. The rural route is located on East Miramar where autonomous vehicle technology testing began early February 2018.
The second project, born of a partnership between the Marine Corps and the state, is planned for later this year. It will pilot the use of autonomous vehicles including electric, autonomous vehicles that are also vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capable. This program will assess the feasibility of autonomous vehicles as a means of transportation for official and personal use on the air station and the effectiveness of V2G technology.
Two autonomous, electric 15-passenger vans will follow the preprogrammed, “urban” route, which will cover the installation’s most frequented locations in the morning, afternoon and evening. When not operating on the preprogrammed schedule, the two vans will be available on-demand along the route.
In addition to testing autonomous driving technology, the vans will be V2G capable, which means they can connect to the air station’s microgrid via a bi-directional electric-vehicle charging station. . . .