Started production of second generation autonomous shuttle, Olli 2.0

Local Motors started production of electric, autonomous passenger shuttle Olli 2.0 powered by ProteanDrive in-wheel motors.

Automotive technology innovator and a world-leading developer of in-wheel motors (IWMs) Protean Electric will drive each of Olli’s four wheels.

The development and supply agreement with Local Motors – which started in 2018 with the first version Olli – represents a major success story for the firm.

Olli is one of the first autonomous vehicle applications for the ProteanDrive technology and marks a significant step for in-wheel motors. Protean Electric has proved its technology through extensive testing, demonstrating that ProteanDrive is also ready for volume application in light commercial vehicles, modern last-mile transportation solutions, and passenger vehicles.

Compared to conventional electrified powertrain formats, ProteanDrive offers greater powertrain efficiency, greater flexibility in vehicle design and allows solutions impossible to achieve with an e-axle. The highly integrated patented design includes all the core technology of an electric driveline within a single unit, delivering optimised efficiency, refinement and safety.

Local Motors by LM Industries, founded in 2007, has pioneered a new model of low-volume vehicle manufacturing, using open-source designs, local microfactories and cutting-edge 3D-printing technology to produce mobility products like Olli. Olli is the world’s first co-created, self-driving electric vehicle, conceived as the answer to a sustainable, accessible transportation solution for all. It is a viable and sustainable transportation option for cities, companies, hospitals, campuses, stadiums, entertainment districts and more.

Protean Electric and Local Motors have been working together for 3 years to evaluate and integrate the ProteanDrive Pd18 in-wheel motor into Olli. Olli is currently deployed at 11 sites across the US, Europe and the Middle East. Customers include city administrations, universities, start-up mobility providers and public transit systems operators.

Source: Protean Electric