The 21st century has witnessed a significant change in the automotive industry, especially regarding sustainable mobility within cities. The electric vehicle (EV) has emerged as a key solution to address environmental and urban congestion challenges. As we approach the 2030s, the evolution of the electric vehicle within cities has gained unprecedented importance. Below, we will review how this mode of transportation has transformed the way we navigate urban environments and examine two particular aspects that have gained prominence: electric vehicle sharing platforms and the growth of electric scooter sales.

The Rise of Electric Vehicles in Cities: Advantages and Benefits

Electric vehicles have become a vital component of the new urban mobility. With the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality, many cities and organizations have implemented regulations and policies to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. In Spain, the best example of these policies is the MOVES plan, framed within the European Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, endowed with a total of 800 million euros in its third edition. The MOVES plan incentivizes the purchase of electric vehicles by individuals and companies through financial incentives based on the type of vehicle, reducing the cost gap between electric vehicles and their combustion engine counterparts.

Regarding the direct benefits of electric mobility on the quality of life in cities, one of the major advantages is its ability to significantly reduce air pollution. Internal combustion engine vehicles produce two types of emissions: greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, etc.) and harmful suspended particles detrimental to human health. Electric vehicles (EVs) do not emit these polluting gases and are considerably quieter than internal combustion engine vehicles, contributing to a more enjoyable driving experience for the driver and a reduction in noise pollution in densely populated urban areas.

The success of electromobility in cities stems from the technical qualities of these vehicles and their suitability for urban routes, which are ideal for electric powertrain capabilities. These routes are characterized by reduced maximum speeds, gradual acceleration stages, and constant deceleration, which provide the opportunity for regenerative braking. In this urban context, electric vehicles often operate more frequently near their maximum efficiency point, allowing them to achieve high levels of range.

On the other hand, the new mobility has led to a focus on sustainability-centered urban design. With the establishment of more charging points in public and private parking lots, as well as on streets and highways, cities are increasingly promoting accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicle drivers, making it easier for their adoption and reducing range anxiety.

The expansion of electric bicycles and scooters on our streets

Urban mobility is undergoing significant changes, many of which are driven in part by traffic restrictions and the implementation of low-emission zones. In this scenario, electric bicycles and scooters have started to gain prominence as standout alternatives to consider. Classified in the category of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs), they are limited in speed to 25 km/h and in power to 250 W of pedal assistance for electric bicycles and up to 2,500 W for self-balancing scooters. With these qualities, and despite the inflation affecting other markets, the electric bicycle and scooter sector in Spain has grown, offering low-cost options for acquisition and maintenance.

Interest in this type of vehicle in European territory has increased significantly, expanding hand in hand with the Nordic transportation model, which focuses on restructuring cities around shared-use paths for personal mobility vehicles and the use of public transportation. Despite electric bicycles and scooters experiencing an increase in their average price, their advancements and innovations in energy density, range, and safety have demonstrated that they are a viable alternative to the traditional private vehicle for daily commuting.

Electric Vehicle Sharing Platforms

One of the most notable trends in urban mobility today has been the emergence of electric vehicle sharing platforms. These platforms offer citizens the opportunity to use shared electric vehicles instead of owning one themselves. Through mobile applications, users can locate, reserve, and unlock vehicles for temporary use.

Electric carsharing and electric bikesharing have proven to be very attractive solutions for many urban residents. Instead of investing in the purchase of a vehicle, users can access an electric vehicle when they need it, paying only for the time they use it. This can be highly beneficial for those who don't require a car or motorcycle full-time or who seek a more eco-friendly alternative to public transportation or internal combustion vehicles.

The advantages of electric vehicle sharing platforms are diverse. Firstly, they promote greater efficiency in the use of cars and motorcycles since a shared vehicle can meet the needs of multiple users instead of each person owning their own vehicle that is underutilized most of the time. This optimization helps reduce congestion in cities and free up parking space.

Secondly, electric sharing has proven to be particularly popular among young people and environmentally conscious new generations, with the age of the main customers falling between 18 and 34 years old. By offering a more sustainable and modern transportation option, these platforms have contributed to changing the perception of the car from a symbol of status and ownership to a mindset of more shared and environmentally conscious mobility. On the user level, sharing avoids the most negative consequences of private ownership, including costs and expenses associated with a vehicle such as insurance, maintenance, and parking space rental, among others.

In Spain, the stable climate, high population density in cities, and the resulting lack of parking spaces have favored the success of sharing platforms, particularly in the motosharing sector. The Spanish market is the second largest globally after the Indian market, with 13,500 shared mopeds registered.

The Growth of Electric Scooter Sales

In addition to the rise of electric cars, another significant trend within cities is the growth of electric scooter sales. These types of vehicles, also known as e-scooters, have become a common choice for personal transportation in urban environments. They are compact, agile, and emit zero emissions, offering a practical and sustainable alternative for short trips and last-mile journeys. In 2022, registration data in Spain shows a 30.3% increase in the sale of electric motorcycles, reaching a sales figure of 15,341 units.

The widespread adoption of electric scooters has been driven by several reasons. Firstly, their compact design allows users to travel conveniently and avoid traffic congestion in densely populated urban areas.

Furthermore, the growth of electric scooter sharing services has further facilitated accessibility to electric scooters. Similar to carsharing, mobile applications allow users to locate and unlock electric scooters in the city, providing a flexible and cost-effective transportation option for those seeking alternatives to car travel or public transportation.

On the other hand, the electrification of various delivery fleets has also contributed in part to the increase in vehicle sales. Some of these examples include entities like Correos, announcing the addition of more than 100 units of electric tricycles from the brand Eezon, or companies like Burger King, which are in the process of electrifying their Iberian fleet of 6,000 motorcycles with NUUK delivery models.

Toward Sustainable Urban Mobility

Many cities, through their municipal governments, are promoting and implementing significant electric mobility projects and initiatives.

We find cases such as that of Seville, which is immersed in a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming its urban mobility towards sustainability. The city proposed the installation of 350 dual charging points for electric vehicles throughout its urban area, thus alleviating concerns about charging point availability and improving air quality and urban health by reducing CO2 emissions.

Another city that has taken a significant step towards greener and more convenient mobility is Granada, which, in collaboration with its municipal government and the electric scooter company Superpedestrian, has implemented a network of electric scooter rental points throughout the city, making them easily accessible to the public. This pilot project offers 500 of these scooters for rent, with the aim of providing fast and sustainable transportation around the city.

In the northern region of Spain, in Pamplona, the municipal government has undertaken a project in collaboration with a transportation and logistics company, successfully introducing a last-mile delivery service based on electric vehicles from the manufacturer Scoobic for deliveries to the end consumer. These vehicles represent a step towards adopting more eco-friendly logistics on the city streets. They hope that this pioneering implementation will pave the way for future expansion into other regions, promoting a more sustainable logistics approach.

The vision of cities like these is just the beginning of the significant momentum that is building toward a much cleaner and more efficient future in urban mobility.

At EEVAM Technologies, we work closely with manufacturers of various urban mobility solutions, ranging from personal mobility vehicles to last-mile delivery vehicles and scooters. Our experience in developing electric models has provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that manufacturers in the sector face, enabling us to provide effective and agile consulting and support to our clients.