Shared e-Mobility:

the backbone of
tomorrow’s smart cities
Electrified public transportation will play
a key role in the evolution of smart cities
everywhere.

HITACHI ABB POWER GRIDS

2 S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S

Getting the right mobility strategy in place

is a fundamental precondition for making
cities smart and sustainable for generations
to come. To that end, transformation across
at least two dimensions will be required:
more electrification and a deliberate move
towards increasing shared mobility, primarily
through public transportation.

The rise in urbanisation is drawing more and more
people to live in already dense cities. Today, more
than half of the world’s population (over 4 billion
people)¹ live in urban areas. In cities everywhere,
increasing population density has created
numerous, albeit predictable, problems like
congestion, air pollution, noise pollution,
overconsumption, and inflation, all of which stress
aging infrastructure and related systems. To help
fight these problems and improve overall quality of
life, cities need to be smarter.
In a smart city, modern technologies, architectural
standards, and stewardship principles are applied
with the aim of making the area more livable, safe,
connected, and sustainable. As a result, smart city
visions share common characteristics such as a low
carbon footprint based on renewable energy, a
heavily utilised and electrified public transport
system, technology-driven infrastructure, and
sophisticated digital tools that allow cities to
streamline service delivery.
S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S
Cities around the world are primary contributors to
the overconsumption of resources and rising levels
of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to
a UN-Habitat² report, cities consume most of the
world’s energy (78%), and produce most of the
global greenhouse gas emissions (60%). A primary
concern is that transport emissions continue to rise
despite efficiency gains: greater overall GHG volume
has more than offset the reductions made through
engineering refinements of internal combustion
engine (ICE) vehicles. The transportation sector is
still accounting for almost 30%³ of all energy
consumed across the US (as of 2019). Clearly,
another solution is needed.
By using electrified and shared modes of mobility,
we can reduce energy consumption and GHG
emissions drastically, whilst also decreasing
transport costs and noise pollution. Right now,
electric vehicles (EVs) excel at short-haul transport,
making them excellent options for personal cars
and medium-duty vehicles, like city buses and
garbage trucks.
This paper focuses on our collective path to
electrified transportation – particularly short-haul
transport – and the role public transportation will
play in the smart cities of the future.
Addressing emissions
with electrification
With more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than
there has been for at least 800,000 years4 – since
long before our species evolved – some experts
believe we are on the brink of crossing a threshold
3
that will create irreversible changes in our climate.
In addition to carbon dioxide, concentrations of
other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide,
and hydrofluorocarbons are also increasing at
alarming rates. Even though there are multiple
contributors to the dramatic rise in atmospheric
greenhouse gas levels, the transportation industry is
the primary offender. According to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, 28% of the
greenhouse gas emissions in 20185 were attributed
to transportation. Globally, the number is smaller at
15.9%, but still places the transport sector as the
second largest emitter of GHGs.
To help fight the unprecedented threat of global
environmental degradation posed by GHGs,
individuals and organisations are turning to
electrified transport for several key reasons:
• Electric vehicles convert between 60-73% of
the electricity6 from the grid into kinetic energy.
Conversely, only 25-36%7 of the fuel put into an
internal combustion engine vehicle gets converted
into power at the wheels.
• When paired with renewable energy charging
sources, electric vehicles can enable full
‘greenification’ of some portions of the
transportation sector.
• Electric vehicles have zero tail-pipe emissions,
which massively reduces the carbon footprint of a
vehicle or fleet.
• Cradle-to-grave lifecycle emissions of an EV are
three times lower than that of traditional ICE
vehicles.8 As the global electricity supply
transitions to lower-carbon generation methods,
EV lifecycle GHG emissions will continue to fall.
4 S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S
World greenhouse gas emission in 2018
Sector
Transportation 15.9%
E N E R G Y
Electricity and heat 30.4%
Buildings 5.5%
Other fuel combustion 3%
The transportation sector
accounted for 15.9% of Manufacturing
12.4%
global greenhouse gas and construction
emissions and 72% of
those emissions (11.4%
of all GHGs) come
Fugitive emissions 5.8%
from road vehicles.
Total: 49.4 GtCO2e
Source: Greenhouse gas emissions on Climate Watch.
Of course, if all vehicles were electric, it would
reshape the way we approach the problem of
reducing emissions, because the points of pollution
would be radically consolidated from hundreds of
millions of sources to an estimated 2,425 fossil fuel
power generation plants currently in operation
around the world9. The focus on reducing or
eliminating emission at those power plants would
then become more intense.
For EVs, the time has come
A decade or so ago, EVs were viewed as
technological marvels that may have been a bit
ahead of their time. High battery prices, limited
ranges, insufficient charging infrastructure, and lack
of widespread awareness inhibited their adoption.
Today, we know that electric vehicles are more
sustainable and environmentally friendly than their
ICE predecessors, and are quickly discovering that
they are cheaper to operate and maintain. This
economic reality, paired with substantial
advancements in production capabilities and
underlying technologies, have driven vehicle costs
down and have made the market much more
receptive. So much so that 2.1 million electric cars10
were sold in 2019, representing a 6% rise from the
previous year, and a whopping 64% rise from 201711.
This brought the EV share of global car sales up to
2.6%, a trend that is inline with some projections
that estimate the EV share might rise to 54% of the
global car sales by 204012.
Reduced operating costs
Modern electric vehicles are substantially cheaper to
operate and maintain than their internal combustion
brethren. According to a study by researchers at
the University of Michigan’s Transport Research
Institute, the average cost of operating an electric
car is less than half as much14 as that of a
conventional fuel-powered vehicle. This is not only
because of fuel savings, but also due to of reduced
maintenance costs. The motor and other electronics
that power EVs have few moving parts and require
little-to-no periodic maintenance.
Policy-based incentives also contribute to lower
operational costs. Many cities have established
clean air, ultra-low emission or congestion zones
where ICE vehicle owners must pay to enter but
electric vehicles travel freely. This can be a
significant cost for those that regularly travel to or
through those areas. For example, a typical ultra-low
emission zone entry fee in London is the equivalent
of $14.80 per day, which can amount to more than
$3,500 per year for many commuters and fleet
owners at pre-COVID frequencies of five trips
per week.
Political acceptance and
tax advantage
Electric vehicles are also slowly garnering broad
political support. In 2019, the US Senate and House
introduced the Driving America Forward Act, which
would extend two specific tax credits for electric
vehicle and hydrogen fuel-cell (HFC) vehicle
purchases. If passed, the estimated cost to the
Federal Government would be $11.4 billion and
would extend a tax credit of up to $7,500 on new
EV and HFC purchases through 2028.15
Other governments are focused on electrifying their
public transport. Paris’ state-owned public transport
company, RATP, has ordered 800 electric buses to
be operational by 202416. Ruter, the Norwegian
public transport authority for Oslo and Akershus,
plans to power all of its electric buses via renewable
sources by the end of 2020.
In addition to clean air zones mentioned above,
13 countries and 31 cities/regions are also
implementing strict policies to phase out the
sales of ICE vehicles.13
By 2040, e-buses will
comprise 67% of global
bus fleets.13
 S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S
CO2-eqivalent emissions (grams per kilometer)
Conventional vehicles
Toyota Prius
Eco
2010
Nissan Leaf (40kWh)
Graph showing the
comparison between 2015
different emissions
(tailpipe, fuel cycle,
manufacturing, battery of
Nissan Leaf (an e-vehicle)
and conventional vehicles.
0 100
Sharing is caring: Why public
transport matters
Globally, traffic and congestion have been increasing
steadily for the last several years as the total number
of miles travelled continues to grow. In fact, a recent
study of 416 cities around the world found that traffic
levels in 239 of those locations (57%) had increased
since 201817. Not only do traffic and congestion
dramatically increase travel time, they also lead to
a host of other negative outcomes including higher
levels of fuel consumption, tailpipe emissions, ‘road
rage’ incidents, and accidents. Congestion-related
statistics underscore the problems:
• The average occupancy of a car in rush-hour
traffic is just 1.7 persons.
• Per 100 passenger miles, a passenger vehicle
with one occupant emits 89 pounds of CO2,
whereas a full bus emits only 14.18
• The average American loses 97 hours every year
due to traffic congestion.19
• Use of public transport eliminates the need to
find a parking spot. In the US, drivers spend an
average of 17 hours every year20 trying to find a
parking spot.
The need to emphasise shared mobility options and
public transport as a necessary alternatives to
individual mobility is long overdue.
Whilst not true ‘public transport’, commercial
vehicles benefit multiple people with every
trip and are part of the fabric of smart cities.
Delivery services, spurred in large part by
e-commerce activity, have led to a surge in the
number of short haul commercial vehicles in cities,
especially in dense urban centers. Reflecting this
trend is the fact that couriers and local delivery
services in the US experienced an annualised
market size growth of 4.7% (or about 26% in total
market growth) between 2015 and 2020.13 In an
attempt to decarbonise and cater to the growing
environmental concerns of consumers, delivery
companies are increasingly seeking to electrify their
fleets. By 2040, it is estimated that a third of the
vehicles in some urban centers will be electrified.13
5
Average UK
car sold in
2019
UK electricity mix
Tailpipe
Fuel cycle
2019
Other manufacturing
Batteries
200 300
The nexus of electrification
and shared mobility
Electrification of public transport and commercial
delivery vehicles paves the way for a smart urban
mobility infrastructure. Shared mobility eases
congestion on roads, and reduces travel times and
air pollution, making densely populated cities more
enjoyable, sustainable places to live.
The good news is that the journey to electrification
has already begun for some of these modes of
transport. Globally, public rail transport already has
a high degree of electrification: three-quarters of
passenger rail transport takes place on electric
trains. Regional and municipal transit districts have
already started betting on electric busses in some
places (there are more than 400,000 electric buses
in China alone).
Due to the short haul nature required in cities,
emerging battery technology is ideally suited to
public transport. The pre-determined routes and
schedules associated with public transport allow a
high degree of planning, and reduce the primary
hindrances in EV adoption – range anxiety and
charging time. Even commercial delivery vehicles
often follow specific routes and have clear operating
schedules that can be fitted to a highly optimised
charging scheme.
With the range and charging time factors overcome,
the main challenges that remain are the availability
of vehicles and infrastructure at affordable prices.
For this, a major shift has already occurred.
Almost all major bus manufacturers now offer
electric models and charging infrastructure is being
made widely available. Fleet charging solutions give
operators the ability to connect seamlessly to the
grid and energy management systems allow them
to master the charging process. With new fleet
charging solutions, operators can lead the electric
revolution from within their depots.
Whilst vehicles and charging infrastructure are
becoming readily available, costs have been more
stubborn. However, as public financing for electric
bus fleets gains wider support and more projects are
released, the effects of manufacturing at scale will
continue to place downward pressure on costs,
making it even more attractive to go electric.
 6 S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S

Five predictions on the adoption of smart e-Mobility

1 The need and demand
for smart mobility
infrastructure will rise
Urbanisation is expected
to gradually grow from
50-68% by 2050²¹.
In order to cater for the
surge in urban population,
more and more cities will
turn to smart mobility.
Well-placed transportation
hubs, electrified vehicles,
and AI-driven routing and
congestion management
algorithms will make travel
even more seamless within
smart cities.
2 Battery electric
technology will be the
path to zero-emissions
for smart cities
With strong electric grids
readily available and no
long-distance, heavy-duty
requirements, battery-
electric vehicles will
finally win over fuel cell
technology, due to their
considerably higher
degree of efficiency,
lower costs and less
infrastructure needs.
3 Cities will consciously 4 Electric grids will be 5 Digitalisation will be a
and aggressively invest able to cope with the key enabler for the
in public transport load, yet need more mobility of the future
infrastructure intelligence
The advent of the 5th
Electric (and eventually The additional load from generation of
autonomous) vehicles the electrification of telecommunication
will make it ever more transportation will be technologies and
comfortable, easy and manageable for the grids. infrastructure (5G) has
ecological for individuals The bigger challenge will paved the road for
to choose to use their own be managing the ubiquitous communication
cars in urban areas. This bi-directionality of power between IoT devices.
will make public transport flows, the integration of Applications of 5G related
options less attractive and renewables power sources to transportation are many.
may increase congestion. and the interplay between For example, 5G would
To combat this, regional varying stakeholders in the enable fleet vehicles to
transit operators will need smart city landscape. communicate with each
to develop attractive public other faster than ever
transport options that offer before, leading to real-time
a competitive level of route adjustments and
convenience, comfort faster deliveries. It can also
and cost. improve performance of
autonomous vehicles by
allowing sensor data to be
transmitted and processed
much faster.

Closing the ‘last mile’ gap 2. On-demand e-shuttles

The ‘last mile’ in transportation has been one of the
key sticking points associated with adoption of
public transport. The last mile ‘gap’ is the distance
between a starting point (e.g., home, office) and the
nearest transportation hub. If the gap is too large,
people generally seek alternatives to public
transportation, which is often a personal vehicle.
Increasing public transport density in metropolitan
areas is the most obvious way to help close the gap,
but there are others worth considering:
1. Rental bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters
In 2018, many companies (most notably Bird, Uber
and Lyft) ventured into the e-scooter and bike rental
space to help close the last mile gap. Whilst these
systems are not entirely carbon-neutral right now
(collection vehicles are typically ICEs, for example),
they are a huge step in the right direction.
Emerging technologies are enabling visions for
solutions such as autonomous, electrified shuttles
to help cover the last mile gap. In one example of
how this could manifest, the City of Columbus,
Ohio, is currently piloting these technologies
with the stated goal to ‘use self-driving shuttles
to close transportation gaps to reaching public
transportation, affordable housing, healthy food,
childcare, recreation and education’.22
3. A more efficient development approach
In a well-planned urban infrastructure, residential,
commercial, and recreational areas are at a walking
distance from public transportation hubs. In order to
truly close the last/first mile gap, we need to rethink
the way we plan our cities and the public
transportation systems that serve them.
S H A R E D E - M O B I L I T Y: T H E B AC K B O N E O F TO M O R R O W ’ S S M A R T C I T I E S 7

Moving towards an electrified
tomorrow
Despite the rapid growth in EV sales, there will be
1.4 billion passenger vehicles on the road in 2030
and about 92% of those will still be ICEs. So, despite
all of the work being done and optimism for
adoption, EVs will account for just 8% all passenger
vehicles 10 years from now. The better news is that
adoption is expected to accelerate dramatically in
the following decade when the global passenger EV
share rises to 31% by 2040.23
However, some of the most successful and
encouraging cases are coming from fleet operators
who are at the forefront of EV adoption. In particular,
bus system operators are poised to see a significant
share of their vehicles converted to electric due
to a confluence of technologies and centralised
infrastructure requirements that currently favor
short haul transportation. Indeed, bus fleets can
take advantage of centralised charging options that
individual EV owners typically cannot, which allows
for wholesale conversion of entire fleets.
These types of bold moves are enabled by the
increasing availability of supporting infrastructure
like the Grid-eMotion Fleet™ solution from Hitachi
ABB Power Grids which simplifies large scale
charging of public and commercial transport.
The Grid-eMotion Fleet solution uses the latest
direct current (DC) technology that saves up to 60%
of the space and 40% of the cabling compared to
conventional systems. The physical scale of the
charging infrastructure is a key aspect of adoption
because a smaller footprint allows fleet operators to
more easily retrofit their existing depots and to
simultaneously charge more vehicles once their
depots are converted. All of these characteristics,
including sustainability efforts like reducing the
amount of cable consumed, combine to lower the
barriers for adoption of large-scale electrified public
and commercial transport – one of the key pillars for
realising the smart cities of tomorrow.
Click here to learn more about pioneering e-Mobility
technologies from Hitachi ABB Power Grids.

Endnotes:
1
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/urbanization
2
Source: https://unhabitat.org/annual-report-2019
3
Source: https://www.bts.gov/content/us-energy-consumption-transportation-sector
4
Source: https://www.livescience.com/65469-highest-carbon-dioxide-levels.html
5
Source: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions
6
Source: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/atv-ev.shtml
7
Source: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/atv-ev.shtml (ibid)
8
Source: https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-how-electric-vehicles-help-to-tackle-climate-change
9
Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/every-coal-power-plant-1927-2019/
10
Source: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020
11
Source: https://www.eei.org/issuesandpolicy/electrictransportation/Documents/FINAL_EV_Sales_Update_April2019.pdf
12
Source: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020 (ibid)
13
Source: https://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/
14
Source: http://www.umich.edu/~umtriswt/PDF/SWT-2018-1_Abstract_English.pdf
15
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_America_Forward_Act
16
Source: https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/78226/paris-800-electric-buses-air-pollution/
17
Source: https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/
18
Source: https://reason.org/commentary/does-bus-transit-reduce-greenhouse/
19
Source: https://inrix.com/press-releases/scorecard-2018-us/
20
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/12/parking-pain-causes-financial-and-personal-strain/467637001/
21
Source: https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html
22
Surce: https://smart.columbus.gov/projects/self-driving-shuttles
23
Source: https://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/
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