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The vehicle manufacturing industry currently accounts for about 10% of the aggregate turnover of all Catalonian industries (IDESCAT), and represents over 15% of Catalonian exports (year 2009). According to the analysis on key technologies, the most decisive will be those related to reducing emissions, improving efficiency and recycling of materials. In the electrical option, the direct contribution is of the technologies related to batteries and ultra-capacitors, power electronics, electrical machines, lighting and small electric motors. Engine heat is also a problem area tackled well by the electric option.
The Movele Project
Plan MOVELE (Action Plan 2010-2012) is a part of the Comprehensive Strategy to Promote Electric Vehicle in Spain (2010-2014). It consists of a series of measures to be implemented over the next two years to encourage decisively the introduction of electric vehicles. The aim is to reach the figure of 250,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2014 on Barcelona’s streets and highways. In this framework, on May 6, 2011, the Cabinet approved a package of measures to promote electric vehicles that are divided into three main lines. It includes, among other things, allocation of 72 million euros as direct aid for purchase of electric vehicles by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
The LIVE project is structured in five main areas to give support to industry, sustainable mobility and the environment. They include giving support in the development and promotion of pilot projects in electric mobility (Living Labs), promoting the early distribution of electric vehicles and obtaining results and best practices from the pilots; Providing the necessary tools and resources to generate a network of innovative assets, in terms of both the economy and the industrial sector, and promoting R&D; Giving support to knowledge and technology transfer in universities and professional fields; Encouraging the deployment of public and private recharging networks throughout the entire metropolitan area of Barcelona; and becoming the leading reference point for people and companies in Barcelona, for any aspect related to electric mobility. This will be done through the creation of the first technical civic agency in Europe for the deployment of electric mobility.
The main functions of LIVE Platform are: Identification, Incubation, Coordination and Planning of initiatives towards the development of electrical mobility; Defining and coordinating the Strategic Plan for the deployment of EV; Developing a centralised communication point for citizens and companies; Communicating, Promoting, Developing Benchmarks and Gathering knowledge; Promoting local participation in Consortiums of European projects and events; and Facilitating economic and industrial transformation.
Many government agencies and bodies are involved in ensuring success for the project. It has been developed by Barcelona City Council (through its departments of Environment, Mobility and Economic Promotion), Generalitat (the regional government) of Catalonia (through the Catalan Institute of Energy), IDAE (The Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving, the Spanish ministry for Industry), and three companies – ENDESA, SEAT and SIEMENS. Plus, there are many partners.
An effort is also being made to bring the major stakeholders, entrepreneurs and users of the region under the LIVE umbrella towards working together for technological, economic & industrial promotion and also, for the implementation of electric mobility in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.
Mobec Point – charging stations for electric motorbikes for citizens: Mobecpoint is a company formed by a group of entrepreneurs based in Barcelona that have the support of important partners such as Schneider Electric and Iberdrola, which provide both the necessary technology and green energy for the charging stations. A Mobec Point, in general parlance, is a station with simple installation, maximum security and small size for recharging electric motorcycles. It has been designed for simultaneous charging of different two-wheeled electric vehicles, either mopeds or motorcycles and can accommodate two to 25 charging points at one place, depending on the requirement.
The centralised monitoring of the facility and the interoperability between individual control centres is done at Network Operation Centre (NOC). The five conditions reflected in the system are: ‘not connected’, ‘connected and charging’, no load connected’, ‘wait’ and ‘out of service’. Action is taken based on these.
Barcelona is exploring ways to define Protected Urban Atmosphere (NearZero Emissions Area) with limited traffic according to a new labelling system for cars based on their degree of emission of pollutants, and the fleet renewal by encouraging the purchase of electric or hybrid cars. A system is put in place for limiting the maximum speed at the periphery of the city, according to time slots, to reduce traffic jam and the consequent reduction of airborne emissions. 20% discount on tolls is given to cars carrying three or more people, i.e., High Occupanycy Vehicles (HOVs).
Barcelona, which enjoys a good public transportation system, has different regular networks of transport – bus, metro, train (FCG, Renfe) and tram. It also has transport services for leisure like Barcelona Tourist Bus, Blue Tram and the Montjuïc cable car.
To ensure a good service to citizens and an easy use of all transport modes, an integrated transport system has been created with an integrated fare system that makes it possible to travel with different companies and modes using a single ticket and paying only once per journey (the validation and sale systems of the different companies is compatible). A wide range of tickets depending on the needs and uses of users is offered not just within the city but throughout the metropolitan area.
Says Pruneda, “In the European Cities (with a mature market of conventional vehicles), the deployment of electric vehicles and the provision of recharge infrastructure is a necessary condition but it’s not sufficient to assure the success of this new technology implementation. This means that we need other parallel actions like: dissemination and communication activities, legal framework, or support to the industrial and new business models generation, etc. So by trying to mix and manage all these actions, we can ensure the success of this deployment. Precisely this is the main goal of the LIVE Platform”.