ViaVan: Electric On-Demand Service with Cologne Transport Company

The Mercedes-Benz vans joint venture partner ViaVan, which according to its own statements is Europe's leading company for on-demand solutions in public transport, has announced that it wants to introduce an on-demand service in Cologne in partnership with the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB) as a supplement to public transport. The service, named "Isi," is scheduled to go into operation with an electric vehicle fleet from December 14, initially with only 50 percent capacity due to the pandemic, a partition to the passenger area, and a strict hygiene concept including mandatory masks onboard. In addition to the option of a "talk-back" function for visually impaired passengers, the shuttles are also wheelchair accessible.

The goal is to expand access to public transport and reduce individual traffic in the city, particularly during times and in areas where there are still gaps. Hence, different operating times and zones have been designed. For instance, the service will be introduced on both sides of the Rhine during the day in areas with significant car usage, a certain amount of commercial activity, and a higher proportion of older residents whose distance to the nearest public transport stop is more than 300 meters, the provider further details. Additionally, they plan to offer access to the city center from nearby neighborhoods during the evening hours on weekends.

Track Arrival in Real-Time

The service will be fully integrated into the Isi app designed by ViaVan, which also allows for booking, ticketing, and billing. There is also the option to book a shuttle by phone. Moreover, the ride-pooling service aims to bundle rides as efficiently as possible to increase efficiency. The self-developed algorithm is intended to direct customers to drop-on and drop-off points in such a way that only short walking distances arise. The vehicle arrival will be communicated to the customer in real time (ETA). Payment for the shuttle tours, starting from 2.70 euros, can be made directly via the app using PayPal or credit card, or in the vehicle. The app also calculates if additional public transport tickets are needed for the chosen route.

ViaVan's technology is already being used by numerous transport companies in German-speaking countries, for example, in Berlin (BVG), Bielefeld (moBiel), Lübeck (SVHL), Mainz (MVG), Neumünster (SWN), Oberhausen (STOAG), Wuppertal (WSW), and Zurich (VBZ).