This Week in Urban Mobility
Welcome to This Week in Urban Mobility, your curated digest of the most important developments shaping the future of how we move in European cities. As an industry insider, I'm passionate about cutting through the noise to bring you the news, trends, and insights that truly matter for urban mobility professionals.
1. Voi Raises €50M in First-Ever Bond Issuance to Power Expansion
Voi Technology has successfully raised €50 million in senior secured bonds as part of a €125 million financing framework, marking its - and the industries' - first-ever bond issuance. The bonds, maturing in three years, will fund Voi’s expansion across Europe, including fleet growth, debt refinancing, and corporate operations. This strategic financial move follows Voi’s increased focus on operational profitability and efficiency, amid growing demand for shared micromobility services.
Voi’s first bond issuance is a smart move that shows their focus on long-term financial sustainability, especially as they continue to expand rapidly. The timing, just one day after launching in my hometown of Stad Antwerpen , highlights their ambition to grow strategically across Europe. This bond issuance also signals confidence in their market position and ability to scale while maintaining strong investor support. Way to go Fredrik Hjelm !
2. umob Expands Global Mobility Network with Four New Providers
umob , a MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) platform, has expanded its international reach by integrating new mobility providers: BAQME , Bird , Bolt , and Cooltra . Now available in Belgium, France, and Spain, umob enables users to book and pay for various transport modes via a single app. The expansion follows umob’s recent successes in Dutch cities like The Hague and Utrecht. With this move, umob aims to become Europe’s largest mobility platform by offering a seamless travel experience with access to 500,000 vehicles across the continent.
From their strategic MaaS Global Ltd acquisition a few months back to this expansion, it’s great to see umob pushing through and building momentum. I’m really rooting for Raymon Pouwels and Bibi Jorissen to succeed in creating the “one app to ride them all,” especially as they bring new partners into their ecosystem. This continued growth could position umob as the go-to mobility platform across Europe.
3. Barcelona Innovates: Subway Trains Now Generate Electricity
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Barcelona’s MetroCHARGE project is using regenerative braking technology to harness energy from subway trains, converting them into power stations. As the trains slow down, the braking energy is captured and used to power station facilities and charge nearby electric vehicles. The city’s subway system serves 440 million trips annually across 165 stations. Currently, 16 inverters have been installed, once fully operational, this system will supply 41% of the energy needed for trains, cutting 3,885 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Barcelona’s MetroCHARGE project is a solid example of how urban mobility can evolve sustainably. By turning subway trains into power generators, they’re reducing emissions while making the whole system more efficient. This is the kind of innovation cities should embrace—using existing infrastructure to make a big impact with minimal disruption. It’s the future of green public transport, and it’s great to see Barcelona leading the way.
4. Madrid Bans Private Rental Bikes to Focus on Expanding Public Bike Program
Madrid is set to remove private rental bicycles from its streets, following the earlier removal of shared e-scooters. The city has decided not to renew the licenses of companies operating dockless rental bikes, citing non-compliance with distribution rules. The move comes as Madrid focuses on expanding its public bike-sharing program, BiciMAD , which now covers all 21 districts with 7,500 bikes. This decision follows the removal of 6,000 e-scooters from the streets for similar reasons related to mismanagement and parking violations.
While dockless bike-sharing programs certainly pose challenges in terms of regulation and street clutter, they complement more rigid systems like BiciMAD by providing flexibility. Removing them might address short-term issues, but it feels like a step backward in offering diverse mobility options. A well-regulated mix of docked and dockless systems could push Madrid’s urban mobility scene forward, rather than limiting choice for users who need spontaneous, last-mile solutions.
5. EIT Study Highlights €1.5 Trillion Needed for Sustainable Urban Mobility
The EIT Urban Mobility Study focuses on the costs and benefits of transitioning to sustainable urban mobility in European cities by 2030 and 2050. It uses three scenarios: infrastructure and mobility services (S01), regulation and demand management (S02), and zero emissions (S03). The report highlights how technology improvements and vehicle fleet decarbonization are key to achieving EU Green Deal targets. Full implementation of these scenarios could cut CO2 emissions by 44% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. However, achieving these goals requires an investment of over €1.5 trillion. S03, the most ambitious, saves 15,000 EUR per inhabitant in external costs by 2050, emphasizing the need for sustainable infrastructure and policy measures.
While the transition to sustainable urban mobility presents immense financial challenges, especially with a projected investment of €1.5 trillion, the long-term benefits are undeniable. Achieving a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 will lead to significant external cost savings and improved quality of life. However, the high investment and public acceptance remain major hurdles, particularly for the ambitious zero-emission scenario.
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Co-Founder & CCO umob | Forbes 30 Under 30
2moThanks for mentioning Sieghart Michielsen !