Finding SOLUTIONS...plus
As cities worldwide strive to meet climate goals, the SOLUTIONSplus project has emerged as a transformative force, paving the way for innovative electric mobility solutions. This initiative, funded under Horizon 2020, co-designed fit-for-purpose e-mobility solutions advancing the sustainable mobility transition in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
At the core of SOLUTIONSplus lies a co-design approach that brings together local stakeholders to develop electric mobility solutions tailored to unique and diverse urban contexts. This inclusive strategy has yielded significant achievements worldwide, ensuring that solutions are not only fit for purpose but also adaptable for scalability. The project has delivered added value across several domains:
- Building capabilities
Through training programmes and peer-to-peer exchanges, stakeholders in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe have been empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to implement e-mobility initiatives. These efforts have been instrumental in fostering local expertise among various stakeholders and inspiring the adoption of e-mobility innovations.
- Supporting start-ups
16 local start-ups were actively involved in Living Labs to test and validate prototypes, operations, and business models. Success stories abound, such as Ampersand in Kigali, which introduced affordable electric motorcycles and battery swapping stations, and Tojo Motors in Pasig, which developed versatile electric vehicles for urban applications.
- Strengthening collaboration
Ongoing consultations with local and national authorities have played a crucial role in shaping supportive policies and fostering business collaborations. This collaborative approach ensured the seamless integration of innovative e-mobility solutions into broader urban planning and development frameworks.
- Creating reference models
Demonstration actions in multiple cities provided valuable data and insights, establishing reference models for e-mobility innovation. These models have showcased the viability and benefits of electric vehicles, encouraging replication in other regions.
A global e-mobility revolution
SOLUTIONSplus has implemented Living Labs in ten cities worldwide, serving as dynamic hubs for testing and refining innovative e-mobility solutions. These labs fostered collaboration with local companies and stakeholders, driving the development of context-specific electric mobility projects.
Moreover, many of these initiatives are now being propelled by implementation programmes funded by entities such as the Global Environment Facility, the Mitigation Facility, the International Climate Initiative, the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission, and many others.
But where are these Living Labs, and what remarkable innovations have they developed?
Asia: Hanoi, Pasig City, Kathmandu, and Nanjing
E-quad developed for the Pasig Living Lab SOLUTIONSplus
In Hanoi, Vietnam, last-mile connectivity was enhanced through a pilot project linking a BRT station to a mall, demonstrating the effectiveness of shared electric two-wheelers in urban environments. In Pasig City (Metro Manilla region), Philippines, smart, multi-purpose e-quadricycles and flexible electric vans were introduced by local manufacturer Tojo Motors, that then integrated them into city services through a dedicated booking app.
Meanwhile, the Nepalese city of Kathmandu focused on retrofitting old diesel buses and mini trucks to electric, as well as old e-three-wheelers (Safa Tempos) for passenger and cargo use. The city also developed modular light electric vehicle prototypes, enhancing the flexibility and expanding the application of electric vehicles, such as shuttle vans and waste collectors.
Lastly, Nanjing’s Living Lab, China, tested eco-routing solutions for passenger transport, supported by the Chinese government, aiming to optimise routes for environmental sustainability.
Latin America: Quito and Montevideo
In Quito, Ecuador, a multimodal e-mobility hub was established, facilitating urban logistics operations with locally manufactured e-cargo bikes, e-quadricycles, and e-mini vans. The hub facilitated the distribution of food supplies and beverages to restaurants and hotels, the collection of recycling materials and the delivery of parcels within the city’s historic centre, reducing emissions and congestion.
Uruguay’s Montevideo piloted e-cargo bikes for last-mile delivery services, with collaboration between local and European start-ups, the municipality, and the public utility company (UTE) enabling the expansion of road and charging infrastructure for Low-emission vehicles (LEVs), as well as the testing of new logistics models.
Africa: Kigali and Dar es Salaam
Retrofitted ICE three-wheeler in Dar es Salaam SOLUTIONSplus
In Kigali, Rwanda, locally designed and gender-inclusive e-motos were deployed, empowering women through sustainable mobility solutions — something we detailed in a previous edition of Cities in motion. Moreover, the pilot allowed the launch of a new electric bus fleet using innovative financial mechanisms that tackled the typical barrier of upfront investment costs.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, introduced electric tuk-tuks to replace fossil fuels in passenger services, along with pedal-assist electric bicycles for urban deliveries, supported by extensive data collection to inform scaling efforts.
Europe: Hamburg and Madrid
Hamburg, Germany, implemented e-scooter sharing and electrified the taxi fleet, with the latter enabled by the integration of a Low Carbon Mobility Monitoring tool that provided valuable data on the environmental benefits of these initiatives.
Madrid’s Living Lab, Spain, focused on e-bus charging infrastructure and the development of a new mobility hub, showcasing significant cost savings and operational efficiencies through its smart charging system for e-buses.
The road ahead
To support the replication of the learnings from the project, SOLUTIONSplus has meticulously crafted a comprehensive toolbox, including training materials, policy papers, and technical guidelines. By disseminating knowledge and best practices, the project ensured that cities and regions worldwide could draw upon its innovations, accelerating the global transition towards sustainable urban mobility.
As SOLUTIONSplus draws to a close, its legacy of collaborative innovation and practical implementation sets a robust foundation for future e-mobility initiatives at a global level. The project’s achievements across diverse urban landscapes demonstrate the transformative potential of electric mobility, promising to reshape cities, mitigate emissions, and improve quality of life. With a clear trajectory illuminated by these pioneering solutions, cities are poised to embark on a journey towards more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive urban mobility systems.
Click here to read the article in its original format.
About the authors:
Oliver Lah is the head of the Urban Living Lab Center, a UN-Habitat Collaborating Center co-hosted by the Technical University of Berlin, the Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He coordinates the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative and the SOLUTIONSplus flagship project.
Shritu Shrestha has been a Senior Researcher at the Wuppertal Institute since 2022. She holds a doctorate from Berlin University of Technology and the Wuppertal Institute and specialises in sustainable transport, urban planning, climate actions, and building energy efficiency. Shritu has also worked with UN-Habitat and the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Clàudia Ribeiro holds a master's degree in Political Science from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the University of Konstanz. She has managed mobility projects since 2016. Currently, she manages multiple EU-funded projects on a diversity of topics, including urban freight, e-mobility, and sustainable mobility, as well as developing bids for project funding.
SOLUTIONSplus