Launched in 2020, the SOLUTIONSplus project aimed to establish a long-lasting transition to low-carbon urban mobility through the electrification of vehicles, with a specific focus on micromobility and smaller electric vehicles. With a consortium of 46 project partners and 116 associated and supporting partners, SOLUTIONSplus exemplified collaboration, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to advance sustainable transport solutions around the world and foster partnerships to continue the co-development process started as part of the project.
SOLUTIONSplus demonstrated the viability of electric mobility solutions and improved operational efficiency by integrating these solutions in diverse urban areas worldwide. Working with local authorities, industry and implementing partners in the ten Living Labs around the world was key to co-develop and implement innovative, economically feasible and socially acceptable electric mobility solutions to improve air quality and decarbonise transport.
A significant focus point of the project was on building a global platform for shared e-mobility solutions and capacity building to ensure a long-lasting impact towards sustainable mobility. SOLUTIONSplus adopted a step-by-step approach, providing stakeholders with the knowledge on tools to understand and navigate electric mobility, promoting peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge, and fostering collaborations between local, regional and international authorities and entrepreneurs to develop realistic business plans for new e-mobility solutions. A notable achievement is the creation of an e-mobility toolbox, which gathers in one place more than 295 useful resources on electric mobility.
Showcasing the potential of e-mobility solutions
The project’s demonstrations in the Living Labs yielded remarkable results, bringing innovative solutions and services to life and providing evidence-based results to decision-makers for the broader implementation and adoption of electric mobility. The SOLUTIONSplus demonstrations were integrated into real-world practices, highlighting their feasibility both operationally and financially. The prototypes that were developed and later tested include:
- In Asia, e3-wheelers were remodelled in Kathmandu (Nepal), in addition to the demonstration of an e-bus and e-mini truck, while Hanoi (Vietnam) saw the deployment of 50 shared e-mopeds, and Pasig (Philippines) tested 15 e-quadricycles with a carrying capacity of 450 kg.
- In Latin America, two e-4-wheelers, two e-3-wheelers, and eight e-cargo bikes were showcased in Montevideo (Uruguay), with 156 trips and 90 packages delivered. In Quito (Ecuador), 25,000 km were travelled using ten e-cargo bikes, alongside demonstrations of four e-mini vans and four e-quadricycles.
- In Africa, 80 shared bikes were tested in Kigali (Rwanda), along with four e-buses and 24 e-moto taxis. The demonstration in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) showcased 39 e-tuk-tuks, four retrofitted 3-wheelers, and 16 pedal-assisted electric vehicles.
- In Europe, the Madrid (Spain) Living Lab featured two inverted pantographs resulting in €50,000 annual savings, while the demonstration in Hamburg (Germany) included 400 e-scooters, with a total of 160,000 trips realised.
In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of these vehicles, the Living Labs included a variety of activities aiming to accelerate the transition to electric mobility. These activities encompassed tailored trainings based on local needs, exchanges and collaboration with regional and local projects and universities, site visits, feasibility and impact assessments, and the production of policy papers with recommendations at a national level. Replication actions also took place in 18 cities to further consolidate the results achieved by the main demonstrations.
More details about the achievements in the Living Labs are available in this brochure.
Sharing knowledge to create a long-lasting change
Capacity building activities were a crucial aspect of the project, with numerous webinars, workshops, peer-to-peer exchange sessions, and regional trainings organised on a wide range of topics related to electric mobility. In the Living Labs, particular attention was given to promoting greater gender equality through specific training sessions to empower women to become key players in shaping the future of urban mobility. For instance, in Kigali, 75 women benefitted from training to transition to electric motorcycle taxis, with the vehicles provided by the project.
Additionally, a global e-learning programme was launched, consisting of five e-course all available to the wider public for free. ERTICO led the third e-course of this programme, which focused on Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The launch webinar attracted 100 attendees, with 33 participants receiving certificates for completing the e-course.
SOLUTIONSplus also collaborated extensively with start-ups and SMEs to empower local businesses to further develop their innovative products and services. The project established a Start-Up Incubator, set up by ERTICO in collaboration with FIER, to help 13 local start-ups develop their businesses and build successful partnerships within the project’s network in the Living Labs, fostering new business opportunities. Specifically, ERTICO developed a tailored training programme on Innovation Management, offering specific guidance and knowledge on all aspects related to business development. Ten project start-ups successfully completed the training, which was then made available to the wider public.
Closing an important chapter at the final event in Brussels
SOLUTIONSplus held its final event on 24 and 25 June in Brussels to showcase its main achievements, discuss the project’s legacy, and outline the way forward. Over 40 project partners and external stakeholders gathered to reflect on the project’s journey, highlight follow-up actions, and identify future research, funding, and replication opportunities. The event fostered international collaboration, synergies, and knowledge sharing among cities, industry, and researchers, with a particular emphasis on key outcomes and lessons learned.
Representatives from related projects, which can build on the insights from SOLUTIONSplus, were invited to present their perspective on future implementation activities. The projects invited included the ERTICO-led ZEV-UP project, represented by Emin Aliyev, Project Coordinator and ERTICO Project Manager, which will develop a compact electric vehicle with a unique swappable battery system. Other invited projects in which ERTICO is a key partner included eCharge4Drivers, which aims to enhance the charging experience for users and is demonstrating a battery swapping service for electric scooters in Barcelona, among other solutions and services; eBRT2030, which is working on innovative solutions for electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and will conduct demonstrations in Latin America and Africa; and STREnGth_M, a key project fostering synergies, research, and capacity building in mobility.
ERTICO’s active role in these important EU-funded projects helps ensure that the innovations and lessons from SOLUTIONSplus will drive forward to help shape the future of clean and electric mobility, determining sustainable urban transport solutions worldwide.
