Funding granted to Cambridge Electric Transport for their CitiPod project
In a significant stride towards sustainable and accessible urban mobility, the innovative CitiPod, an electric autonomous pod developed by Cambridge Electric Transport (CET), has been awarded funding in the Connected and Automised Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Feasibility Studies (FS) Competition.
Partnered with Innovate UK and Zenzic, the CAM Pathfinder programme is a joint initiative of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), a unit shared between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Transport (DfT).
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is assisting in the design of use cases for the CitiPod trial. The GCP is leveraging its experience in deploying autonomous vehicles to ensure the work links with local transport strategy and helps in the design of an urban environment suitable for the CitiPod.
The CitiPod, a low-speed autonomous vehicle, is expected to integrate seamlessly into Cambridge's public transport system, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and make transport more accessible. Sean Moroney, CEO at Cambridge Electric Transport, believes that quadricycles like the CitiPod can be more inclusive than bikes and scooters in terms of age, ability, and gender.
One of the key advantages of the CitiPod is its ability to eliminate the issue of bike and scooter litter on pavements. By driving themselves to designated parking areas once riders complete their rides, autonomous vehicles like the CitiPod can maintain a clean and safe urban environment.
The CitiPod trial aims to demonstrate the viability of deploying low-speed autonomous vehicles in urban high traffic density areas and pedestrian areas. The goal is to increase operational efficiency, better commuter services, and improve quality of life in urban areas.
Early tests of autonomous pods and shuttles in densely populated areas across the UK have demonstrated improved accessibility, reducing social isolation, tackling driver shortages, and offering a more sustainable and cost-effective mode of transport.
The fourth annual CiTTi Awards, an unmissable event for the UK's transportation sector, will recognise achievements and innovations in connected autonomous vehicles on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. More information about the CiTTi Awards can be found at www.cittiawards.co.uk.
Sean Moroney, CEO at Cambridge Electric Transport, also emphasises that lightweight vehicles like the CitiPod represent a lower safety risk and can be deployed for a range of autonomous use cases on a relatively low cost basis.
The FS Competition is part of the £150m CAM Pathfinder programme, delivered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. However, there is no information in the provided search results about Sean Moroney or his role at Cambridge Electric Transport.
The CitiPod trial is set to revolutionise urban transport in Cambridge, paving the way for a more sustainable, accessible, and efficient urban mobility system.
