Kia Niro EVs Used in First Driverless Rental Cars Program

The world’s first driverless rental car service is about to commence in Las Vegas by a company called Halo.Car. Cowboy Kia thought you would be interested to know that the cars they have chosen for the program are Kia Niro EVs.  As a remote-controlled vehicle operated via remote control by drivers in Halo.Car’s home office, February 15, 2023, is the date when Las Vegas pedestrians and drivers will begin seeing the white Niro EVs driving on their streets with no one inside.

Remote-Piloted Delivery and Pickup 

The concept of the Halo.Car program is to provide customers with a concierge-like rental experience without requiring an extra driver and vehicle for delivery and pickup. The system begins with a customer arranging a rental through Halo.Car’s phone app. The Niro EV will then be remote-driven to the customer’s location whereupon the customer simply gets in and drives off. When the customer no longer needs the car, they simply park, inform the app their rental is complete, and leave the vehicle. Halo.Car then remotely drives the car back to its base where it recharges for its next run.

Niro EV is an Ideal Car for the Program

That the Kia Niro EV was selected for the program is understandable. Its electronically controlled drivetrain, and its standard driver-assist features, are essential for the conversion to remote operation. Part of the Niro EV’s large cargo area stores the computer stack hardware needed for remote operation. Halo.Car is anticipating the development of a smaller-sized componentry to fit in the front motor compartment. 

As for the customer, they get a spacious, comfortable, vehicle with a smooth, quiet ride, plenty of torque for city driving, and a range of approximately 239 miles before recharging.

Remote drivers use Gaming Hardware and Bespoke Software

The remote driver uses a Logitech force-feedback steering wheel & pedal system and faces a large curved monitor. Mounted discreetly on the car are six cameras that send signals through three compact antennas to provide the imagery for the remote-control driver’s screen. Halo.Car’s developed its own holographic stitching which turns five camera images into a seamless 210-degree view showing a view to the front and each side of the vehicle. The rear view comes from the sixth camera which is a separate image located much like a normal rearview mirror.  Together the six images create a 360-degree view from around the car.

Three Stages of Field Testing

Prior to sending remote cars into the street, Halo.Car went through three stages of field testing

• The first stage was a conventional delivery and pickup program using the Niro EV and a second car to ferry a driver for delivery and pickup.  This was mostly to beta-test the app.
• Stage 2 involved Niro EVs being remote-driven, but with a safety driver in the car. 
• Stage 3 involves remotely-driven Niro EVs with no one in the car but followed by a driver in a safety car that contains a remote kill switch.

Given a successful completion of the third stage, full remote drop-off and pick-up operation is expected to be phased in on February 15, 2023, at which point, Halo.Car will be the world’s first business commercially using unoccupied remotely piloted vehicles on public roads. Initially, the program will be limited to a 1.2-square-mile area in downtown Las Vegas. As the fleet and remote-control driving staff grow, the territory will grow as well. 

When you visit Las Vegas we suggest you try out the Halo.Car service. There is an hourly rental rate of $10 per hour, or a daily rate of $80 per day, excluding taxes. All Niro EVs arrive fully charged except for the mile or so of delivery distance. To ensure the right person is driving off in the Niro after it arrives, renters are identified by their smartphones.

As the Halo.Car Niro program expands and needs more vehicles, the all-new 2nd-generation Kia Niro EV would be an ideal choice.  Compared to the previous model, it offers more power, a longer range, and has a futuristic design fully in keeping with Halo.Car’s cutting-edge service. Perhaps someday the remote-driving concept will expand to a point that when you are ready for your new Kia, Cowboy Kia will simply remote-drive one to you. Until then, stop by Cowboy Kia to check out the impressive new Niro EV and all the other extraordinary Kia models in our showroom, along with our inventory of Certified Pre-Owned and Used Kia models.