Highlighting the essence of global cooperation to advance sustainable mobility: eBRT2030 at TRA2024

Research and innovation are pivotal to advance the uptake of sustainable urban mobility in Europe and beyond. This is why in April eBRT2030 attended TRA (Transport Research Arena) in Dublin, to discuss with sector peers and experts and ensure the knowledge exchange vital to move our sector forward.

On 16 April, eBRT2030 organised a session together with SolutionsPlus and TRANSSAFE, both EU-projects tackling issues around sustainable and safe urban mobility. The session aimed at showcasing how innovation projects can support sustainable urban mobility in different contexts, particularly beyond the EU to amplify findings and allow replication worldwide. Welcoming speakers from UEMI, VUB, UITP and RINA, the session looked at the integration of different topics where cooperation is essential to implement innovative solutions enhancing mobility access of underserved areas, or regions with increased transportation needs.

The SolutionsPlus project was presented by Oliver Lah (UEMI), who explored the main outcomes of the Sol+ project highlighting the different demos and activities of the project. The project is going towards its end, but different initiatives will continue the work of the project in some of the countries. He mentioned how for example in South America and East Africa the eBRT2030 project will play a role in accelerating the uptake of innovative solutions on electric BRT in some of the identified cities throughout small demonstrations or supporting local stakeholders with feasibility studies.

Omar Hegazy of VUB described the different innovations of the eBRT2030 project in the fields of battery state of health, charging, automation and connectivity. He remarked on the importance of such innovative elements for improving the BRT systems around the world and how these will be implemented.

Roberta Gentile from RINA underlined the innovative simulation tool that eBRT2030 is developing as a follow-up of the ASSURED project, which ended in 2022. This tool will allow to input eBRT system parameters so operators can get help in tasks like predictive maintenance, which improve the safety of the EBRT fleet in a cost-effective manner.

The TRANSSAFE project, which looks at advancing road safety in Africa, presented two of its main tools: the Walkability app and the Road crash data dashboard. Lottie Stainer of UITP noted how the involvement of local users was key to strengthen road safety and the field of application of the tools and these proved to be extremely helpful. She discussed how the TRANSSAFE project and other related initiatives are key in Africa and cooperation is essential.

The conclusion of the session was clear, as also highlighted by moderator Flavio Grazian (UITP): an effective cooperation amongst different EU initiatives is absolute key to effectively advance innovation and sustainable urban mobility all over the world.