Weekly Newsletter Update - 24 November 2023

Cities worldwide are recognising the urgent need to address environmental challenges, and one pivotal aspect of this effort is the push toward electric vehicles (EVs). Recent developments in Adelaide and London, covered on SmartCitiesWorld this week, exemplify a growing commitment to boosting electric vehicle charging infrastructure, laying the groundwork for greener urban landscapes.

The City of Adelaide has taken a bold step by endorsing a comprehensive roadmap designed to expedite the transition to electric vehicles in the city and North Adelaide. Transport emissions contributed to over a third of the community's carbon footprint last year, with the council's fleet cars accounting for about 8 per cent of total corporate emissions. This roadmap, crafted in collaboration with key stakeholders, outlines a series of initiatives that can be implemented within three years. One of the focal points is the installation of 100 public electric vehicle and bicycle chargers by 2025. Additionally, the city aims to see 75 per cent of its light fleet vehicles transition to electric by the same year, all powered by the council's commitment to 100% renewable electricity.

Meanwhile, on the banks of the River Thames in London, a new project from UK Power Networks is establishing the UK's first-ever high voltage shore power station above tidal waters. The substation, situated on a fixed tidal platform with a tidal range of 7 metres, will deliver 1.5MVA of energy to a battery storage facility. The stored energy will then be utilised to charge electric boats navigating the River Thames. This initiative not only addresses the environmental impact of traditional boat propulsion but also aligns with broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions across various sectors. Funded through UK Power Networks' Green Recovery programme, the project demonstrates how public and private partnerships can drive sustainable initiatives.

These examples in Adelaide and London underscore the growing global momentum toward sustainable urban mobility. Building electric vehicle charging capacity is not only about reducing carbon emissions but also about creating smart, resilient cities equipped for the challenges of the future. As cities continue to endorse and implement such roadmaps, the vision of widespread electric vehicle adoption becomes increasingly tangible, promising a cleaner and more sustainable future for urban communities.

Luke Antoniou , Senior editor, SmartCitiesWorld

Here is a round up of the headline stories from the past week:

1. 2023 Ashden Awards: climate champions announced
2. Riga approves plan to create safer and just streets
3. Adelaide endorses roadmap to boost electric vehicle charging
4. Substation helps to build a greener River Thames in London
5. OPINION: Smarter education: accelerating digital innovation in learning
6. Vancouver Airport uses lidar to improve passenger happiness
7. Town of Rumford speeds up deployment of small cell capacity
8. SPECIAL REPORT: How connected vehicles are creating a safer Peachtree Corners
9. Belfast Harbour to roll out self-driving shuttles in 2025
10. City of Graz implements smart traffic monitoring project
11. SPECIAL REPORT: Community solar: enabling a clean energy transition for all
12. Culver City installs smart traffic monitoring system
13. Seoul deploys multilingual interactive translation kiosks
14. C40 Cities’ roadmap aims to decarbonise built environment
15. UK establishes 5G Innovation Regions across the country
16. Las Vegas progresses plan to be a model smart city by 2025
17. How cities are using data for social impact
18. Data portal brings visibility on available energy capacity
19. Stockholm works with Populus to manage micromobility
20. IBM accelerator programme focuses on water management
21. Digital twin specialist aims to “democratise” 3D mapping
22. The transformation from smart to cognitive cities