Heathrow’s driverless pods may overtake the car

Visitors to the Science Museum in London this week had the chance to see one of the driverless electric shuttle pods that will next year take thousands of passengers to and from Terminal Five at Heathrow Airport – a technology that could eventually do away with the need for cars.

The Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system currently being built at Heathrow is entirely automated and offers on-demand, non-stop transport using small vehicles that run on specially-built tracks. The project will eventually comprise a fleet of 400 electric, four-seater pods serving outlying hotel airports and car parks.

Driverless cars – sit back and relax

The PRT system at Heathrow airport may be the forerunner to cars which do not require drivers. GPS, sophisticated sensors and navigation databases may allow a fleet of driverless cars to operate on the same roads we have today; such vehicles could consign the notion of private car ownership to history.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The potential environmental benefits of widespread PRT are huge – the technology would offer a level of service unattainable by public transport combined with the privacy afforded by car travel.”

“Its juxtaposition with the polluting aircraft at Heathrow should serve as a reminder of what is possible; since it operates only when needed, it could eliminate the need for cars and mass transit systems.”