Good morning all!
We are excited to launch our team’s take on the weekly newsletter of the Strategic Management course 2021. Today, the newsletter will focus on the topic of Mobility.
So, how do you usually get to university, to shopping or basically to your favorite city’s places every day? Not only people, but also products have to be transported to reach their final destination. Due to globalization and economic growth, the transport system is working at maximum capacity with a negative impact on the environment.
We would like to inform you about possible alternatives and current trends in the field of sustainable urban mobility and their potential to bring the transport revolution forward. Our aim is to motivate you to contribute to a green future.
We will expose the following topics:
1. E-scooters
2. E-bikes
3. Cargo bikes
4. Carsharing
5. The Green Capital of the world
In addition, we will share resources (videos, podcasts, jobs) that address further aspects of the important topic of green urban mobility.
We hope you enjoy our take in the Strategic Management and Sustainability newsletter and feel free to ask us in case of any further questions.
Arianna Spagnolo, Carlotta Sanchez Lazaro, Manuel Lopez Arias and Mia Biene
Strategic Management Students of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Today’s newsletter is 1800 words, a 7 minutes read.
Source https://fancyapple.com/electric-scooter-for-rent/
E-SCOOTERS, THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION
Cities and their citizens are in a continuous process of change and transformation. The way we eat, the way we communicate, the way we learn, the way we live, has evolved, and transportation is changing at the same rate.
In the recent years, a new urban transport system has emerged: Electric Personal Mobility Vehicles, known as E-scooters. Their efficiency and comfort are the most highlighted characteristics, but the important advantages provided are:
- They do not have any CO2 emission, neither cost related with fuel, because they are ELECTRONIC driven
- We go from moving with a car that occupies an approximately area of 6m2 to a surface area of 0.2 m2 that E-scooters occupy: REDUCED SIZE. In addition, the congestion on the streets and traffic jams are significantly reduced, and most important, pedestrian areas are maximized by reducing road surfaces.
- We pass from moving a 75kg person with a 3000kg vehicle to move them with a 15kg vehicle: WEIGHT. The energy efficiency at this point is unquestionable.
These vehicles allow users to move around the city as a real alternative to cars, as the speed they reach is more than acceptable and the time spent on average from one point of the city to another is quite similar to the one spent by car.
Research conducted by Future urban mobility (FM) experts at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology in 2019, found that E-scooters may be the future of micro-mobility in the next few years. They describe the device as “an affordable and convenient mobility alternative to driving on Singapore’s often-congested roads during peak hours”, and trust E-scooters to replace the rest of transport vehicles in short-distance trips by 2025. “E-scooter sharing services have shown enormous potential to become an important component of transit systems in urban environments in Singapore and other cities worldwide”.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the rapid growth of this mean of transport, some corporate transport enterprises such as Bolt, Cabify, or Dolt, among many others, have developed E-scooter rentals around the main districts of the metropolis. This fact makes E-scooters available for the public, providing a convenient and environmentally friendly alternative to other transportation options and promoting life quality and health.
E-BIKES
Electric bicycles represent another option of transport, that contributes to sustainable mobility within large cities. There are citizens who directly own one and use it frequently, and others who prefer to rent it. The main difference with respect to conventional models is that they have assisted pedaling, so that the effort is considerably reduced.
It is relevant to mention that it is a means of transport clean, cheap and with very few maintaing costs which makes it very attractive to move around the city. Nevertheless, bicycles must run on the road and not where pedestrians walk which makes it a bit scary if there are not proper bicycles lines to prevent accidents.
MADRID´S E-BIKES
There is a public e-bike service offered to all citizens and visitors of the city as an alternative eco-friendly means of transport such as public transport or carsharing. It is composed of 2496 bicycles distributed in 208 stations, which makes it available for everyone. There is an attractive fee for users of the public transport for 15€ a year, which is really cheap.
Source:http://www.citylogistics.info/research/ph-d-thesis-can-cargo-bicycles-contribute-to-better-city-logistics/
CARGO BIKES AS A WAY TO GREEN LOGISTICS?
After a strong increase in e-commerce profits, mainly driven by the pandemic, CEP (courier, express and parcel) transport in urban areas has also risen sharply. Around 50% percent of all trips in cities originate from the transport of goods and services. The increasing burden of traffic jams, noise and pollution in cities and overcrowded urban areas becomes more and more a problem. The use of cargo bikes could play a central role in solving the problem as a sensible supplement to car traffic.
Cargo bikes can transport a package volume of up to 50 packages and a maximum of 150 kg. Unlike individual transport, many different models are possible with variations in the number of wheels, loading and seating areas and are also available with electric drive.
A new study of the university of Munich in cooperation with the university of Eichstätt-Nuremberg deals with the potential of cargo bikes in the field of package delivery and includes a new planning tool, which allows to find the right strategic position for so-called micro depots from where to load the cargo bikes. They are particularly well-suited for use in neighborhoods with narrow development, short distances and limited parking space.
According to the study, 28% of the parcel volume in Munich can be delivered by cargo bikes, which results in savings of 16% of kilometers travelled and in a reduction of 14% in emissions. Especially a cooperation of more than three companies could reduce emissions by further 25%. Cost advantages do not arise due to a higher total number of tours triggered by lower load volume.
Cargo bikes could soon be used on a large scale in daily business and contribute to a greener future.
CAR SHARING
Focusing on the transports’ world, one of the main ideas used to build a sustainable environment, is the Car Sharing project, renting cars for shorter and longer distances by using an online platform. Only a valid driver's license is required.
Car Sharing has expanded in the last few years and, even in the same city, people can find and use different platforms of car sharing. The choice is widen and, consequently, consumers are able to choose between different kinds of cars not just in terms of brands but also in terms of comfort, security and methods of driving.
What are the aims of “Car sharing”?
- Renting cars everywhere and in every moment, to discourage people from buying their own car
- Reduction of human beings’ carbon footprint and general environmental pollution
- Reduction of acoustic environment, which could strongly damage people health by provoking sleeping disorders, raising people’s blood pressure and provoking cardiovascular diseases
- Possibility of renting electric cars to reduce CO2 emissions
Milan’s example
Nowadays, governments are trying to reach a new important aim: build the so called Smart cities, which should be sustainable cities, providing the ethical principles of green economy, ecofriendly environments and the ideal of sharing.
So far, the application is distributed only sporadically, but Milan is one of them. The concept of Smart city can be easily linked with the concept of Car Sharing.
As a matter of fact, Milan is one of the first city, which introduced Car Sharing Platforms in order to follow this ideal of sharing. The italian city offers three main platforms of Car sharing: ShareNow, Enjoy and Leasys.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROVIDERS?
ShareNow provides a high number of vehicles, owned by different firms. It provides Fiat 500 cars, Smart for four, Smart for two, Citroen, BMW and a lot more.
Why using such a wide range? Because the people’s reason of using a car differs.
The money needed to pay per minute depends on the kind of car. The wider the choice, the more people are attracted to use them.
Secondly Enjoy provides Fiat 500 cars, but, differently from ShareNow, where you can both rent automatic and manual vehicles, only manual cars are offered. But overall, you can easily travel in comfortable and spacious environment.
Finally, Leasys offers a range of electric vehicle, which enables people to travel on Fiat 500 electric by strongly reducing CO2 emissions.
In conclusion, Car sharing with its variety and wide offer is a good and effective way to encourage people Sharing.
Renting is better than buying, saving is better than wasting, sharing sometimes can be better than owning, because sharing doesn’t just mean dividing, but also means building a long-term sustainable environment where people are required to work together and cooperate in order to create a better, more familiar and clearer world and environment.
Source: https://tomorrow.city/a/what-has-made-copenhagen-the-green-capital-of-the-world
COPENHAGEN: THE GREEN CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Ranking of European cities concerning urban green mobility, evaluated in the following categories: public transport, road safety, air quality, mobility management and active mobility.
1. Copenhagen
2. Amsterdam
3. Oslo
But what is the secret of Copenhagen’s success?
In 2016, 675.000 bicycles and just 120.000 cars were on the streets in the 775.000 inhabitants’ city of Copenhagen. Around 62% of the city’s residents chose to cycle to work and university. 76% feel safe using bicycles. These figures are the result of investments amounting to 270 million euro in cycling-related initiatives and infrastructures since 2004. With a cycle lane network of around 411 km in an area of about 90 km2, the city enables fast transport without any emissions, supported by convenient cycle parking spaces and free-cycle repair shops. But a few bicycle lanes are not enough. 66% of the city’s CO2 emissions result from energy consumption. To decarbonize the city, Copenhagen has made strong investments in renewable photovoltaic and wind energy. In order to keep track of the current state, the city implemented a network of sensors designed to improve the efficiency of municipal buildings.
Have you ever heard of urban gardening? To reduce pollution and improve the use of rainwater, it is allowed to build green roofs. Since 2010, it has been a legal requirement that newly-constructed buildings must have green roofs. The implemented concept of Copenhagen could serve as a role model for many other cities and contribute to the goal of a climate-neutral world.
Further Suggestions:
Podcast: Smart Mobility Podcast https://smartmobilitypodcast.com/
This podcast deals with all facets of mobility and transport, current trends and developments as well as emerging problems. Different experts are interviewed and qualified discussions are held according to the motto: Think out of the box.
Jobs: Green Mobility Trainee newly-offered by six different companies including Daimler Truck, DB Schenker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub, Onomotion and time:matters
https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/newsroom/releases/multi-company-trainee-program-with-focus-on-green-mobility.html
Video: What’s the future of urban mobility?
Instagram account: smselectrics
REFERENCES:
https://news.mit.edu/2021/e-scooters-new-micro-mobility-service-0622
https://tallerdelpatinete.es/una-nueva-forma-de-moverse-por-la-ciudad-patinete-electrico/
https://www.bbva.com/es/sostenibilidad/que-es-una-bicicleta-electrica-y-que-ventajas-tiene/
https://idw-online.de/de/news765224
https://www.kreiszeitung.de/lokales/bremen/bremen-ohne-stau-und-parkplatzsuche-91068318.html
https://www.share-now.com/it/it/fleet/
https://enjoy.eni.com/it/milano/home
https://tomorrow.city/a/what-has-made-copenhagen-the-green-capital-of-the-world