“Digitalisation will drive more effective mobility management”

Mobility is a key pillar of the European Commission’s strategy and the central theme of a week-long awareness campaign across the EU. This year’s edition of European Mobility Week, which kicks off this Monday, highlights the transformation the sector is currently undergoing. For Sergio Úbeda, Transport Knowledge Area leader at Zabala Innovation, the sector still faces significant challenges, such as the lack of charging infrastructure and the regulation of new technologies. Nevertheless, in five years’ time, the key trends will be “sustainability, especially in terms of the use of alternative fuels, and the centralised management of different modes of transport and intermodality.” The most promising trend is primarily “digitalisation,” says this expert.

What challenges does the transition to electric vehicle fleets face, particularly in freight transport? How is the issue of charging infrastructure being addressed?

The absence of an adequate charging network for these vehicles is one of the biggest obstacles to their widespread deployment in fleets and affects the efficiency required for these services. The lack of high-power, fast-charging points is critical, especially for covering long distances and meeting tight delivery deadlines. The EU and member states are promoting investment in charging infrastructure through programmes such as CEF-Transport, with the AFIF priority. However, in addition to investment in infrastructure (related to energy sales), it is crucial to implement initiatives that help transport companies finance the transformation of their fleets. Ultimately, if these actions are not carried out simultaneously, there is a risk that none of them will progress due to the uncertainty that could arise.

Besides electrification, what other energy sources are being explored for mobility? Which ones have the most potential in the short and long term?

Hydrogen, biofuels (such as methanol or ethanol), compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, photovoltaic solar energy, etc. Some of these, like natural gas, have been in place for a few years but have not fully solved the issue. As a result, other alternatives, such as hydrogen, more suitable for long distances and applicable to road, maritime or rail transport, as well as aviation, have emerged. As for photovoltaic solar energy, its use makes more sense as an auxiliary source.

What concrete actions is the mobility sector taking to reduce its carbon footprint, and what regulatory changes are needed to speed up the transition to a more sustainable model?

The most visible transformation is taking place in public transport systems, with a constant shift towards electric vehicles, both in fleets and in shared personal transport initiatives (electric bikes and scooters), and the implementation of low-emission zones, among other measures. Public transport is at the forefront of introducing these innovations, as urban environments are ideal for implementing zero-emission vehicles and establishing flexible and connected networks between different modes of transport, facilitated by data-driven decision-making. However, while there is strong regulatory and social awareness of the need to decarbonise cities, challenges remain, particularly regarding peri-urban mobility and, above all, the connection with rural areas.

What technological, regulatory or social barriers are holding back the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles?

Although technologies in this field are evolving rapidly, the truth is that the major barriers to their widespread deployment are both regulatory and social. In both cases, they are closely linked to the perception of insecurity, both physical and digital, and the lack of infrastructure and legislative development. Once the regulatory barrier is removed, gaining public acceptance through education and awareness campaigns will be essential.

What impact will autonomous vehicles have on employment in the sector?

We are going to witness a transformation of the sector at all levels, which could range from the loss of current jobs, such as drivers, to the creation of new roles focused on digitalisation, as well as in the area of training. However, we live in a society where education and specialisation have reached higher levels than in the past, and this transformation could facilitate the integration of young people into the labour market in the future.

Shared mobility has grown in cities but faces several challenges. How do you see its evolution, and what measures should be implemented to make it more accessible and safer?

It is clear that a large part of the population is concentrated in urban areas, so as a society, we must transform this ecosystem into a more efficient, sustainable, and connected mobility model. As in other transport sectors, the main challenges are the creation of adequate infrastructure, social awareness, and regulation.

What recent regulatory changes have most significantly impacted the sector?

Those related to vehicle traffic restrictions in urban areas, particularly regarding access to low-emission zones and the ban on the use of certain more polluting vehicles.

Are there regulatory gaps that should be addressed to encourage greater innovation?

There is still a long way to go in areas such as autonomous driving, the use of drones, and other less complex aspects, such as creating unified regulations for personal vehicles, such as electric scooters.

How will digitalisation help change the mobility sector?

Advances in data science and communications, along with the development of artificial intelligence algorithms, will help us make safer and more efficient decisions in fleet and infrastructure network management and in the coordination of transport modes and services. They will also shape how we interact with transport. An environment where mobility data is shared at all levels — users, vehicles, infrastructure, and services — will allow for the management of individual preferences and the establishment of on-demand transport routes almost in real time. This includes the use of mobile applications, not only for reservations and payments but also for monitoring the status of routes and connections between transport modes.

In the mobility sector, what R&D&I project calls are worth paying attention to?

EIT Urban Mobility often launches several calls. One of the most interesting is the Main Innovation Call, which is published annually and addresses various urban mobility challenges across nine thematic areas: active mobility, intermodality, infrastructure, accessibility, logistics, public spaces, future mobility, energy, and sustainability. This programme seeks projects that have a very advanced technology readiness level (TRL) and are close to the market, allowing companies to implement their solution in two urban areas as a demonstration, providing visibility and projection towards other cities. I would also mention the Cities Mission of the Horizon Europe programme, which focuses on decarbonisation and digitalisation of European cities. These are large-scale demonstration projects. Their topics are aimed at redesigning public spaces in a climate-neutral way, achieving pollution-free cities, promoting lifestyles based on shared and sustainable mobility, and integrating peri-urban areas into the transition towards climate neutrality in cities. Within the same Horizon Europe programme, Destination 6 of Cluster 5 is also worth noting, which focuses on financing innovations related to multimodal transport and logistics, infrastructure and traffic management, and safety.

How do these calls influence the adoption of new technologies in the sector? What approved projects could serve as examples?

R&D&I projects are essential for the adoption of these technologies. Such projects, especially demonstration projects, allow them to be tested in controlled environments and identify technological, economic, legal, and social barriers. The conclusions drawn are essential for defining replication plans. Moreover, securing funding to carry out part of these developments is key to minimising risks and promoting collaboration between industry, R&D centres, and public bodies (such as those representing cities), who will be among the main users and promoters of some of these emerging technologies. Among the many examples that exist, I would like to mention Senator, a project aimed at developing effective strategies, measures, and tools to achieve zero-emission urban logistics.