GreenPower Motor Company Inc. announced the development of the first fully autonomous EV Star shuttle to undergo testing for transit applications. Perrone Robotics (PRI) is currently integrating the autonomous components and, once complete, will deliver the vehicle to Fla.’s Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA).

“With this new partnership, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will expand and ramp up our AV Test & Learn activities,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “This work is laying the foundation for what will be the nation’s first public transportation network powered by autonomous vehicles.”

The JTA is currently developing autonomous vehicle solutions for Jacksonville and has been working with AV technology since 2017. The agency has hired a former Amazon executive to lead their automation team and have created the minimum specifications for autonomous vehicles, the “Golden 20”; GreenPower’s EV Star has met 19 of the 20, the most of any bus reviewed by JTA. In addition to developing a public transportation network in downtown Jacksonville, the JTA is working with local colleges, medical campuses, and other partners to further validate and gain acceptance for this technology.

The fully autonomous EV Star is expected to enter service later this year.