ERTICO:ElectroMobility pilot projects launched at the European Parliament

2012.03.02

(Date:9 February, 2012)

Smart Connected ElectroMobility holds the potential to fundamentally change today’s transport system and patterns and make a quantum leap towards sustainable mobility. Four European “eMobility” pilot projects (SmartCEM, ICT4EVU, MOBI.Europe, and MOLECULES) joined forces for their launch in the European Parliament on 8 February 2012.

The four pilot projects, run under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), strive to facilitate and enhance user experience and acceptance of electric vehicles by offering various ICT services for urban and inter-urban mobility. These services will be tested and evaluated on test sites in EU Member States all over Europe.

MEP Malcolm Harbour, Chair of the IMCO Committee, and host of the event, opened the session by introducing the programme speakers.

Mr Harbour underlined his conviction of the importance of sustainable mobility. He further explained that

• Mobility and especially integrated mobility is vital for the cities
• Vehicles can deliver ElectroMobility solutions
• It is of vital importance to engage all stakeholders but especially municipalities in order to integrate these technologies in transport systems.

MEP Bernd Lange, co-Chair of the Forum for the Automobile and Society

The first speaker MEP Bernd Lange confirmed that the European Parliament is closely following policy developments in ElectroMobility. He reminded the audience of predicted changes in urbanisation, demographics and climate. He further explained that ElectroMobilityis a part of the solution – especially integrated mobility and the combination of vehicles and ICT as a solution of the future. He especially mentioned the integration of ElectroMobility as an alternative urban mobility solution for local authorities. He also stated that the 4 projects need a solid basis, that the EP is on their side and he wished them success in their future work.

Mr Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director-General, European Commission DGINFSO

Mr Zoran Stančič, explained the EU policy framework behind the CIP pilots (Research and Innovation Programme, EC transport policy 2020 and beyond, Digital Agenda for Europe). He further mentioned the importance of the CIP pilots which provide opportunities to work with different stakeholders. 

ICT 4 EVEU, MOBI.Europe, MOLECULES, SmartCEM (Presentations by the four CIP projects on smart ElectroMobility)

ICT 4 EVEU is a project aiming at the deployment of an innovative set of ICT services for electric vehicles (EV) in complementary pilots across Europe. The focus of the services in question is the integration of different management systems operating on the existing EV infrastructures of the pilot cities. ICT 4 EVEU will then deploy interoperable ElectroMobility services on these interconnected infrastructures. The three pilots will cover different areas. The first one will run in Bristol, UK, and its commuter belt. The second one will join the Spanish towns of Vitoria and Pamplona, creating a common corridor of 100 km. Finally, the Slovenian pilot will connect the most important cities of the country, Ljubljana and Maribor, and have an international aspect as there will be observers from the Austrian region of Styria, which has shown a big interest in this pilot.

MOBI.Europe will promote the full integration and interoperability of available, currently tested ICT ElectroMobility applications. It is built on the ElectroMobility initiatives of Portugal, Ireland, the Spanish region of Galicia and the Dutch city of Amsterdam. For the benefit of the EV user, the project aims to integrate these four areas by ensuring full interoperability of the standards and mobility services already in use there.

The aim of MOLECULES is to contribute to the pre-deployment and wider uptake of smart connected ElectroMobility as a radical departure from today’s transport system, leading to reductions in carbon emissions and less congested urban areas. The pilot actions will test urban and inter-urban ICT services that facilitate and enhance the user experience of electric vehicles. They will support real-time interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the transport and energy infrastructures. Services comprise for instance pre-trip and on-trip planning and optimisation including EV energy use and charging, as well as vehicle to grid connectivity.

Four European cities/regions, Barcelona (ES), Gipuzkoa-San Sebastian (ES), Newcastle (UK) and Turin (IT), have joined forces to demonstrate the role of ICT solutions in addressing shortcomings of ElectroMobility. As the potential of EV is under-used due to their limitations and lack of  confidence, the smartCEM project aims to minimise the current EV limitations, by applying advanced mobility services (EV-navigation, EV-efficient driving, EV-trip and charging station management).

Speeches by high level representatives followed on The users’ perspective

Werner Kraus, President of FIA Region I (which represents 104 Automobile and Touring Clubs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa), commented on the SmartCEM pilot project of which the FIA is a partner:

 “Raising consumer awareness is key for the adoption of new technologies and the FIA and its member clubs are best placed to play this role. That’s why the FIA fully supports the SmartCEM initiative and the demonstration of eMobility as a real alternative for our day-to-day mobility.

Click here for Mr Kraus’ podcast.

National plan to promote ElectroMobility

Antonio Bob Santos spoke on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Innovation, highlighting Portugal’s new public and private programme (PPP) on ElectroMobility. This programme covers energy and renewable sources, environment, transport and research and innovation. Twenty-five municipalities are testing these innovative solutions.

The importance of ElectroMobility for sustainable urban mobility

Pere Ferrer Sastre praised these 4 initiatives, “without them is difficult to meet transport goals”.  The city council has installed 191 new electric vehicle battery-charging points in Barcelona. The Movele electric vehicle plan is not the only action up to now to have been promoted by the city council for furthering the use of electric vehicles in the city, in order to achieve more sustainable mobility.

ElectroMobility and renewable energies: a win-win situation for a sustainable low carbon economy

Carlos Lopez presented MODERNA, the new economic development model for Navarra: a medium and long term strategic regional plan promoted by the Government of Navarre (Unión del Pueblo Navarro – UPN) together with other stakeholders. The MODERNA TREE plan includes particular emphasis to sustainable vehicles and renewable energies.

The podcasts of the above speakers are available here.

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