E-mobility solutions for urban transportation: User needs across four continents

Abstract

Aiming at setting up a global platform for e-mobility solutions, the EU-funded project SOLUTIONSplus (2020–2023) established nine living labs in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America to test innovative solutions involving new services, business models, vehicle types, and charging systems. A user needs analysis was undertaken in all project cities. The paper summarizes the main findings of this analysis and investigates the effect of the external environment on user needs. The perceived importance of electric vehicles in the mobility patterns, quality of life, and city environment is examined, along with the expected challenges in the respective market penetration. The correlation of these perceptions with selected external factors is also analyzed to draw recommendations on e-mobility promoting efforts that are aligned with the preferences and priorities of the local stakeholders