Nobody doubts that transforming urban transport hinges on electrification. Companies across the sector are clear: this is the route to cleaner, more sustainable mobility. The biggest hurdle to advancing this path is funding and clear regulation, according to several executives who spoke during the session “Technology and Innovative Solutions. The Start of a New Era” at the II Intelligent and Sustainable Mobility Congress, organized in Madrid by Prensa Ibérica, El Periódico de España, and partners. The event was sponsored by Avanza, Cepsa, FCC, Mobility City, Fundación Ibercaja, Iberdrola, KPMG, and Pinsect Mans, with the collaboration of AER, ANESDOR, ANFAC, ASEPA, ATUC, Corresponsables, Ganvam, Madrid Green Urban Mobility Lab, Neomotor, Pons Mobility, Seopan, and Sernauto.
“We are entering an era where clean and automated mobility will become the norm. We need to invest in fresh ideas; artificial intelligence and new algorithms will be a big help in this transition,” stated Manuel Ramo, director of Urban Mobility at Avanza, who also argued for regulatory discipline to sustain ongoing innovation. “Digitalization is crucial to draw people to public transport. Most users want access via their mobile devices, especially digital natives,” explained Juan Manuel Martínez, president of the Spanish Association of Transport.
Ana Fernández, head of Iberdrola’s urban mobility product line, brought a note of optimism: “Electrifying city transport is feasible. We also need to bring this transformation into freight transport. Electric vehicles prove more economical over time than combustion engines.” Fernández emphasized that it is worth moving forward despite high initial investment and highlighted the importance of incentives to kick-start the sector. “In the long run, electrification is more efficient and will make us more energy independent, given that Spain can generate substantial electricity from renewables,” she said.
“Electric buses are already a reality in many cities. The challenge now is intercity travel, but work is under way to give vehicles more autonomy and to deploy 11 MW chargers that can recharge buses at their required stops,” noted the Iberdrola representative, who also pointed out that many charging points already exist. “We need to install more, but the regulatory framework poses hurdles,” she said.
Miguel Ruiz, president of the National Association of Urban and Metropolitan Transport (ATUC) and CEO of EMT Málaga, also stressed that securing funding is the most critical aspect of the ongoing transformations. “It seems that part has been forgotten,” he remarked, though he added that rapid progress in urban transport is driven by innovation. “Citizens appreciate it when public transport becomes their best option. European funds have helped electrify transport, but operators need a reasonable cost structure to complete the urban mobility electrification,” he explained.
Jaime Gálvez, representative of the CUAPRO Quadricycle Platform, raised concerns that incentives for urban mobility are not arriving as they should. “Sometimes the message from administrations is unclear. As technology suppliers, our main worry is stronger government involvement,” Gálvez said.
Electricity generation capacity
Juan Manuel Martínez, president of the Spanish Association of Transport, underscored the need to estimate how much electricity will be required to complete the electrification of urban mobility, given that current transport mixes diesel and electric-powered vehicles.
Regarding the capacity to generate enough power for urban transport infrastructure, Ana Fernández of Iberdrola argued that generation will be sufficient to meet charging demand for electric buses. “If all vehicles were electric, energy needs would rise by about 130 TWh annually. Between 1997 and 2007, demand grew by 100 TWh, and the transition from combustion to electric is expected to take more than 25 years,” she concluded.
The conversation also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve charging infrastructure. The debate acknowledged that more charging points are essential, and regulatory clarity remains a target for policy makers. The participants emphasized that collaboration among utilities, manufacturers, and government bodies will be crucial to sustain momentum and ensure a reliable and affordable transition for cities across both Canada and the United States. [Source: II Congreso de Movilidad Inteligente y Sostenible, Madrid; remarks summarized by participating organizations and confirmatory notes from industry leaders.]