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A Nissan-led research project, evolvAD, has wrapped up the UK’s most rigorous autonomous driving (AD) tests yet. Backed by the UK government and a consortium of five partners, this initiative builds on eight years of Nissan’s AD research, logging over 16,000 accident-free autonomous miles. Using 100% electric Nissan LEAFs, evolvAD tested cutting-edge AD tech on urban and rural roads, advancing the UK’s readiness for self-driving vehicles. The project aligns with Nissan’s global vision for safer, cleaner, and more inclusive mobility, setting the stage for future AD deployment across the UK.
Key Highlights
- Rigorous Testing: 21 months of trials on complex urban residential and rural roads, pushing AD tech to its limits.
- Zero Accidents: Over 16,000 autonomous miles driven across three projects—evolvAD, HumanDrive, and ServCity—since 2017, with no incidents.
- Next Steps: Focus shifts to studying UK infrastructure and regulatory readiness for widespread AD adoption.
- Global Impact: Insights from evolvAD feed into Nissan’s worldwide AD research, including Japan and the US.
The evolvAD project, funded through the UK government’s £100m Intelligent Mobility fund, partnered Nissan with Connected Places Catapult, Humanising Autonomy, SBD Automotive, and TRL. This collaboration not only honed AD technology but also bolstered the UK supply chain for future mass deployment. Nissan’s David Moss, Senior Vice President for Research & Development, emphasized the safety and accessibility benefits: “All three research projects have been tremendously successful in driving our knowledge and understanding of how AD technology performs across challenging driving environments.”
Testing involved advanced simulators, private tracks, and real-world roads, tackling challenges like narrow urban lanes and unmarked rural routes. The project introduced innovations like a chassis control system for enhanced braking and steering, alongside vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) tech using CCTV to boost situational awareness. Robert Bateman, evolvAD Project Manager, noted: “Following the successful conclusion of evolvAD and previous projects, we are now shifting towards studying the readiness of the UK to introduce AD systems.”
With the UK’s automotive sector in the spotlight, Sarah Jones MP, Minister for Industry, praised the milestone: “The UK is home to a world-class automotive sector, and I’m pleased this project has brought autonomous vehicles one step closer to reality.” As Nissan continues its global AD push—seen in Japan’s Easy Ride trials—the evolvAD findings will help tailor the tech for diverse conditions, paving the way for a future where self-driving cars are commonplace.
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