Mastering mobility: LEV batteries

Light electric vehicles (LEVs) are rapidly becoming a key component of modern urban mobility, with significant growth expected in the industry over the coming years. In Europe, LEVs are already outselling electric vehicles (EVs), with the market projected to triple by 2030 and double again by 2040. In 2022 alone, 10 million LEVs were sold in Europe, nearly three times the number of EVs sold that year.

Can we combat poverty with an app?

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Some cities are trying apps to mark down homeless camps and tend to their needs in a more localized fashion. But that technology can be abused.

Mastering mobility: public transport microincentives

Subsidies and incentives for public transportation have long been seen as an integral part of encouraging public transportation ridership. A recent study conducted in the United States found that metro areas that received more government subsidies per capita were more likely to run with more passengers on board, rather than running routes with just a few heavily subsidized riders per vehicle. This finding was important as it was an alternative to the widely held belief that subsidies only influenced ridership in very particular groups and led to inefficiencies in the system.

Mastering mobility: understanding the health benefits of active mobility

In an era defined by the drive towards decarbonised transportation, active mobility is often highlighted as a crucial part of the solution. But active mobility, which encompasses modes of human-powered transportation such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, running, etc; is more than just a way of getting from one place to another sustainably. Active mobility not only helps to decarbonise transportation, but it is also a pathway to improved physical, mental and social well-being; both individually and collectively.

Mastering mobility: noise pollution

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), one in five people living in the European Union are exposed to noise pollution and long-term noise levels that are considered harmful to their health. From sleep disturbances to cardiovascular issues, noise has also been shown to even have impacts on children’s ability to learn. These negative impacts affecting roughly 100 million residents are due to traffic noise. This translates to one million healthy years lost per year to illness, disability or early death due to road, rail and air transport-related noise.
Given that the European Environment Bureau lists noise pollution as one of the most significant threats to public health, after air pollution, there are numerous action plans in place. The reduction of noise is currently a key objective under the EU’s Zero Pollution Plan for 2050, which aims to reduce the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030. And the Environmental Noise Directive is the main EU law focused on identifying and addressing noise pollution.

AI Approaches for City Management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising how cities manage operations, optimise resources, and engage with residents. By embracing AI, municipalities can enhance transparency, foster collaboration, and drive innovation to address complex urban challenges. Across Europe, cities have adopted diverse strategies to integrate AI into their administrative structures, from prioritising trust and transparency to building collaborative ecosystems and pursuing centralised innovation. Here’s how leading cities are creating smarter, more adaptive urban systems.