By 2050, about 70% of the world’s population will live, commute and work in urban areas. Between now and then, cities and suburbs will undergo significant transformations to create sustainable living conditions for their residents. Mobility and energy are the twin pillars of these transformations, and both will require radical adaptation to meet demographic and economic growth without increasing congestion and pollution. Cities will require mobility and energy solutions that are sustainable, affordable, secure and inclusive, and integrated with customer-centric infrastructure and services. Thus, the convergence of energy and mobility is critical.
These are exciting times in which new technologies allow people to rethink the way they live in a more sustainable and efficient manner. Smart mobility. Smart water. Smart grid. Smart integration. These are the foundations of tomorrow’s cities, which are being realized today.
Following the World Economic Forum’s previous work on the future of electricity and the digital transformation of industries, Electric Vehicles for Smarter Cities: The future of energy and mobility examines the major trends affecting the transformation of energy and mobility systems, with a special focus on cities: electrification, decentralization and digitalization of the energy system, along with the shift towards shared mobility and autonomous driving.
The recommendations provided aim to accelerate these transformations, in ways that will magnify the economic and societal benefits they could bring. While suggesting a comprehensive approach and broadly applicable principles, this report also shows how to tailor each electrification strategy to specific markets: energy, mobility and urban infrastructure patterns will affect how the countries and cities decide their own priorities. Furthermore, the report also showcases examples of transformational public and private initiatives to drive greater collaboration.
The vision and framework proposed in this report will support policy-makers and urban planners, as well as private investors and businesses to undertake the critical actions required to accelerate electric mobility where energy, mobility and urban transformations converge
This report outlines a range of systemic interrelated measures for a progressive transformation towards low-energy, low-carbon, highly resilient and ultimately climate neutral cities.