(CNN) Should you find yourself walking through the quiet cobbled streets of Neuhausen Rheinfall, you might just stumble across the future of public transportation.
That's because this year the small Swiss town has embraced an all-electric self-driving bus that's the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
While other manufacturers have introduced autonomous buses elsewhere to various degrees of success -- from the Mercedes Future Bus to a Las Vegas shuttle that crashed on its first day -- never before has one been fully integrated into a regular timetable.
Open to the general public since March 2018, passengers can now travel to the nearby Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe visited by an estimated 1.5 million tourists a year, without a driver in sight.
"It's an all-autonomous bus and it's fully embedded into our public transport system here in Schaffhausen," Trapeze CEO Peter Schneck told CNN Supercharged. "It allows us to drive without a driver."
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Response time
Negotiating the roads alongside regular traffic, the "Trapizio" also has no need for pedals or a steering wheel, instead relying on a number of advanced sensors to identify potential hazards.
Should the bus approach an unexpected obstacle or unwitting pedestrian during its pre-programmed route, its response time is quicker than that of a human being.
Its top speeds aren't yet something to write home about -- limited for the time being to 25 kph -- but the Trapizio does boast some pretty impressive charging times.
Able to operate throughout the day on a single battery, the bus is typically charged overnight in a process that takes between three to four hours.
It certainly looks the part, but is it safe?
"Absolutely," enthuses Schneck, who says he's tested that claim himself on numerous occasions. "It will stop immediately, faster than a car."
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'Strengthening public transport'
For now, a supervisor stands by and can take control of the bus when required with a "gamepad," but the hope is that in time outside assistance won't be necessary as the technology becomes more widely accepted.
"This marks the kick-off of our journey towards Stage 5 of autonomous mobility, when ultimately no person will be needed for attendance on board anymore," said Schneck.
Not that he believes this innovative design will lead to all buses becoming driverless any time soon.
"Our intention is to strengthen public transport," Schneck explains. "One of the reasons why people are using their individual car is because there are some fractures in mobility.
"So when you want to go to your final destination, typically you have to walk from home to the bus stop.
"If it's raining, you might still use your car, and once you're in the car you go ahead. But if someone picks you up at home for the first mile, then brings you to the hub for a bus or tram, then you can continue your journey to your final destination."
One potential benefit of directly linking autonomous mobility with traditional public transport services is the capability to explore new routes.
"[We] consider autonomous vehicles to be more than just a test object," said Bruno Schwager, director of the public transport authority of Schaffhausen.
"In the future, self-driving vehicles are expected to allow routes that to date have never been covered or were unprofitable to now be operated at reasonable cost. This benefits all public transport activities.
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Driving the future
Described as "the funnest car I've ever driven" by none other than Kanye West, the Tesla Model S is now being used for
a new zero emissions racing series organized by Electric GT.
Details of the
EGT Championship were unveiled in April, with the inaugural season set to commence in the southern Spanish city of Jerez on November 3, 2018.
Able to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 1.85 seconds, the all-electric Rimac Concept Two is one of the fastest cars ever made.
Unveiled at March's Geneva Motor Show, the Croatian hypercar boasts top speeds of 258mph (412kph) and is claimed to be "as capable on track as it is crossing continents." It can travel a quarter of a mile -- from standstill -- in just 9.1 seconds.
Designers claim the Concept Two has a range of over 400 miles (650km.) With facial recognition in lieu of a traditional key, it's one of numerous electric supercar concepts lighting up 2018.
Offering a "new kind of luxury mobility," the interior design of the Aston Martin Lagonda Vision was overseen by Savile Row tailors.
As well as lush carpets of silk and cashmere, the self-driving car boasts front seats that rotate 180 degrees to facilitate face-to-face conversation on the move.
Designed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the new Lamborghini concept is like nothing else on the road.
Italian for "Third Millennium," the Terzo Millenio would not look out of place in a sci-fi movie.
Stefano Domenicali, Lamborghini CEO and Chairman, said the project "intends to write an important page in the future of super sports cars."
All-electric four-seater saloon from China, the LVCHI Auto Venere claims to have a range of 403 miles (650km).
It's longer than a Range Rover but that doesn't stop it shifting. The Auto Venere can reportedly accelerate from 0-100kph (62mph) in 2.7 seconds, delivering a top speed of 168mph (270kph).
Designed to transport up to to six passengers simultaneously, the EZ-GO concept is Renault's "vision of shared urban mobility."
The shared, electric driverless vehicle has been "built for the city" and has level four autonomous technology, meaning it would be able to handle all routine circumstances on recognizable roads.
The days of the steering wheel may soon be over. Most controls aboard the IMx Kuro can be controlled via hand gestures and eye movements, according to the Japanese manufacturer.
Brain-to-Vehicle, or B2V, technology enables the KURO to interpret signals from the human brain, speeding up reaction times and paving the way for cars that learn from each other. Should the driver wish to sit back and let the car do the work, its seats recline and the steering wheel retracts into the dashboard.
Expected to hit the roads by "2022 at the latest," the I.D. Vizzion is also designed to be used predominantly with voice and gesture.
The car, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is said to boast a range of 413 miles (665km) between charges and level five autonomous driving -- meaning it can handle any situation a human could negotiate.
Capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds, the first ever all-electric Jaguar has 395bhp and a range of 298 miles.
"Every Jaguar feels like no other car on the road," says a statement from the iconic British manufacturer. "Moving to all-electric power doesn't change this."
With a "revolutionary" four-wheel drive powertrain developing 671bhp, the Elextra will reportedly move from standstill to 62mph (100 kph) in less than 2.3 seconds.
The Swiss-German built four-door car will have its top speed limited to 155mph (250 kph) but it boasts a range of over 600km on a single charge.
Hyunda claim the Le Fil Rouge adheres to the golden ratio -- a mathematical pattern found in nature -- culminating in a "sensuous sportiness."
French for "common thread," Hyundai claim Le Fil Rouge is a car that connects Hyundai's past, present and future designs.
This one-seater offering might not be the fastest -- boasting estimated top speeds of just 82mph (130kph) -- but the diminutive three wheeler will zip you around the city where few other cars can go for just $15,500.
Described as the "safest SUV ever," the new Model X seats seven but can accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.9 seconds.
An amalgamation of the BMW i3 and BMW i8, the i Vision Dynamics concept has a range of 373 miles and accelerates from 0-62mph in four seconds.
Expect to see all-electric Minis on the roads by 2019, marking the 60th anniversary of the legendary marque's first car.
A four-wheel drive SUV concept from India, the futuristic looking e-Survivor will be powered by dual electric motors on each wheel and be equipped for autonomous travel.
Designed for track use only, the Chinese single-seat Techrules Ren RS can be configured with up to six electric motors, delivering up to 1,287bhp.
That lets it travel from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in three seconds with a max speed of 205mph (330kph).
"Autonomous vehicles are an ideal supplement to existing services and do not jeopardise any jobs -- quite the opposite is true, for they may even create new ones."
And it could be just the beginning.
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The aim, the manufacturers say, is to not only establish a self-driving shuttle bus on the streets of Schaffhausen, but to design the future of mobility worldwide.