Tag Archive: barcelona

  1. Barcelona launches electric motorcycle sharing service

    Comments Off on Barcelona launches electric motorcycle sharing service

    Source: Servei Da Premsa

    The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) has recently introduced a new service across eight municipalities, with the aim to deploy up to 10,000 motorcycles by the end of the year.

    This initiative is believed to be the largest shared electric motorcycle service in Europe, moving the region closer to sustainable urban mobility. The initial rollout will cover Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Sant Adrià de Besòs. Spearheaded by AMB President Jaume Collboni and Mobility Vice President Carlos Cordón, its launch emphasizes the e-motorcycle sharing service’s potential to reduce emissions, enhance air quality, and promote intermodal commuting.

    “Today we are launching the shared electric bike. Let’s take a giant step. It is the largest regulation in Europe. It is a more sustainable option for citizens to be able to choose their best mobility option,” said Cordón. He also believed that it will “promote intermodality and change of habits”.

    How the sharing service will operate

    The AMB awarded licenses to five companies through a public tender process, which will oversee the management of 9,950 electric motorcycles in designated zones. Participating companies include Hori Rides, Yego Urban Mobility, Cooltra Motosharing, Go Sharing, and Acciona Mobility, with each allocated between 1,950 and 2,050 motorcycles. These companies are expected to complete their deployments within 40 days of the announcement.

    To ensure balanced accessibility, the AMB has outlined mandatory service areas, restricted parking zones, and prohibited areas, in line with local regulations. Each company operates independently with its own app and pricing model, though AMB has made the motorcycle locations visible on its Mobility and SMOU applications. All motorcycles and helmets are labeled with an AMB logo for identification, though each company maintains its distinct branding.

    Road safety compliance

    The service also comes with a framework of oversight. The AMB has established a technical committee to collaborate with municipalities and operators, ensuring compliance with safety and road regulations. All operators have agreed to adhere to AMB’s code of road safety practices. The AMB has implemented a penalty system for violations, detailing the levels of infractions and stipulating license revocation procedures if necessary.

    Licensing

    This initiative, crafted with input from over 60 organizations, including the Catalan Competition Authority and the National Commission of Markets and Competition, introduces metropolitan licenses with a two-year validity. Licensees pay an annual fee of €45 for AMB management and additional fees to municipalities for public space use, ensuring financial support for sustainable urban development.

    Barcelona shifting further toward sustainable mobility

    The metropolitan electric motorcycle service represents a strategic shift towards green mobility in Barcelona’s urban landscape, prioritizing sustainable options and aiming to foster a cleaner, healthier metropolitan region.

  2. Research assesses physical activity levels of bike, e-bike and e-scooter trips

    Comments Off on Research assesses physical activity levels of bike, e-bike and e-scooter trips

    A study published in the Journal of Transport and Health reveals micromobility patterns in the city of Barcelona, Spain, by assessing physical activity levels associated with bike, e-bike and e-scooter usage.

    Conventional bikes and e-bikes are the most active transport mode for health benefits.

    To examine the physical activity and health benefits for each travel mode, researchers Bretones, Miralles-Guasch, and Marquet, measured the amount of energy used by riders as METs (Metabolic Equivalents of Tasks). Findings showed that energy conversion with all micromobility modes was 2.47 and 2.65 METs (under specified real time and traffic related conditions, respectively).

    Out of all vehicle modes, E-scooters received the lowest energy conversion, with 2.20 METs on average, with researchers recognising the physical activity level required for it as being similar to that of automobile trips. Results also revealed that a minute of riding a conventional bike achieves 28% more physical activity than that of riding an e-scooter, with a difference of only 1.4% between electric scooters and e-bikes.

    In terms of distribution for physical activity, the study states that e-scooter usage patterns showed intermittent peaks of physical activity with extended sedentary periods, while e-bikes and bicycles had a more even distribution, with more intense bursts of exercises during these trips.

    The results revealed non-electric, conventional bikes as having the highest energy expenditure, with researchers highlighting both conventional and electric bikes as being key transport modes to help improve public health benefits through physical activity.

    Vehicle usage in distance and location context

    E-scooter trips covered shorter distances (1.96 km) compared to the mean distance covered by other modes of micromobility (2.28 km). The article does acknowledge that e-scooters can be a great transport replacement for more sedentary travel, such as private vehicles, and recognises that in the context of dense and compact cities like Barcelona, the short journeys that e-scooters tend to cover are often already undertaken by walking or biking.

    The researchers indicate that this study can be a useful source to help improve public health policy, and suggests that e-scooter and bike sharing should be further promoted to replace car usage, thus helping to maximize health benefits for citizens.

  3. Indefinite strike to affect Barcelona’s bike-sharing service

    Comments Off on Indefinite strike to affect Barcelona’s bike-sharing service

    Source: The Mayor.eu

    Employees of Bicing, Barcelona’s bike-sharing service, are preparing to go on strike, with unions CGT and CCOO describing the action as ‘indefinite’

    The strike is set to commence at 7:00 a.m. on 14 November, and at 10:30 striking workers will gather to protest at the site of Barcelona City Hall in Place Sant Jaume.

    CGT, one of the unions representing the Bicing workers, has advised service users to consider alternative means of transport for the duration of the strike. It is likely that there will be insufficient Bicing bicycles to meet demand, and broken bikes will not be repaired.

    Bicing currently has 7,000 bikes on the streets of Barcelona. However, according to the service’s workforce, that number is too low to meet user demand. The strikers are calling for an increase in the number of bicycles, plus the improvement of the replenishment service, meaning repairs can be made without affecting the offer on the streets.

    The Bicing workforce is also putting forward demands for a five-year agreement with the city, seeking to guarantee salary increases in line with rising costs of living. There are also demands for the recovery of seniority, enhanced weekend and holiday pay, and the creation of bonuses.

  4. Barcelona unveils fully electric bike-sharing service for 2023

    Comments Off on Barcelona unveils fully electric bike-sharing service for 2023

    Source: TheMayorEU, T.V. Iolov

    AMBici offers new sustainable mobility options to city residents and will integrate with the existing Bicing scheme.

    Last week, Barcelona’s public transit operator presented the infrastructure of the upcoming AMBici bike-sharing service, which will cover the entire territory of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB). The scheme will launch early in 2023 in the municipalities of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí and Cornellà de Llobregat, expanding further over the subsequent 3 months. Once fully operational, AMBici will provide 2,600 electric bicycles and 236 stations to residents of the metropolis.

    Regarding the integration of AMBici with Barcelona Municipality’s existing Bicing service, transfer stations for the two services will be created in areas bordering Barcelona with the municipal terms of Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat, and a metropolitan pass, with discounts for users of both services.

    The AMBici service will offer 100% electric bicycles of the latest generation – the e-SMARTbike 2.0 model, that provides agile and safe commuting. The bicycle boasts features such as a low centre of gravity, ‘starter boost’ function, and automatic assistance levels.

    In 2023, AMBici will apply a promotional rate of €25 per year per pass, which will allow 30 minutes of free use for each journey. After the free 30 minutes, it will cost 0.50 euros per half hour.

    From 2024, the subscription will cost 40 euros a year, with the first 30 minutes at a price of 15 cents. After the initial 30 minutes, it will cost 0.50 euros per half hour.

  5. Stromer official “e-bike” supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racing

    Comments Off on Stromer official “e-bike” supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racing

    LEVA-EU member Stromer has entered a partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing in their preparations for the 37th America’s Cup. Stromer will be providing fast electric bikes, or “Speed Pedelecs”, as well as developing new special editions that will carry the Alinghi Red Bull Racing name.

    Participation in the ‘America’s Cup’, the oldest sporting trophy in the world (1851), requires vision, an innovative spirit, and a certain willingness to take risks. After an absence of ten years, Alinghi has joined forces with Red Bull with the goal of winning the 37th America’s Cup, hosted in Barcelona from August to October 2024. The Swiss company myStromer AG, a leading manufacturer of Speed Pedelecs, is now working to help Alinghi Red Bull Racing achieve this goal as the team’s official supplier of electric bikes. This collaboration is based on a long-term vision and will not only boost the team’s mobility in Barcelona, but everywhere that they go. Stromer will also introduce a Special Edition in the colors of Alinghi Red Bull Racing that is based on the model ST7 in 2023.

    Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s training location is Barcelona, a busy metropolis. To support the team members on their daily journeys in the city, Stromer is the team’s official supplier of e-bikes. In addition to fast electric bikes, Stromer is also providing the team with racing bikes in the colors of Alinghi Red Bull Racing to help train the sailors. Cycling will play a key role in this competition for the 37th America’s Cup, both on land as well as on the water. The energy for the mechanical systems is generated on board by pedal systems that are operated by four members of the team: the “power group”. Modern mobility is thus a common thread between Stromer and Alinghi Red Bull Racing thanks to their interest in efficiency and performance.

    “Sailing has fascinated humans around the world for centuries. Alinghi Red Bull Racing stands for performance and perfection, just like Stromer. We expect this partnership to increase the global brand awareness of Stromer and to enhance the focus on the topic of alternative mobility. We are also excited to launch an ST7 Alinghi Red Bull Racing Special Edition in 2023.” Tomi Viiala, co-CEO of myStromer AG

    “We are looking forward to our collaboration with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Passion and perfection are just two values that we share. We wish Alinghi Red Bull Racing a perfect preparation phase and victory at the next America’s Cup. We are naturally also proud to be able to ensure the mobility of the team in Barcelona with our bikes.” Karl Ludwig Kley, co-CEO / CFO of  myStromer AG

    “These new boats, the AC75, are bringing cycling and sailing closer: the rules of the class allow having cyclists on board to provide the energy to operate the boat systems. The fact that we will be able to ride bikes as part of the preparation in Barcelona will also be a huge advantage for the whole team. We are truly lucky that we will be able to rely on Stromer in our quest for the next America’s Cup. We represent the colors of Swiss industry in the world and stand for the same values: precision, quality and performance. A huge thanks to them for it!” Arnaud Psarofaghis, Alinghi Red Bull Racing Sailing Team

    #HereToChangeMobility

    Stromer supports sustainable, environmentally friendly mobility solutions. Stromer Speed Pedelecs can be ridden up to 45 km/h with engine assistance and represent the best of Swiss engineering. The models capture the imagination through an exclusive combination of timeless design, smart connectivity, pure performance, and maximum range.

    Stromer ST7 Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team Edition

    Exclusively for its partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the Swiss company will manufacture a special series of its top model, the ST7, in the team’s colors. The new Stromer flagship combines cutting-edge technology and high-end components to create a Speed Pedelec truly in a class of its own. With a 1,440 Wh battery and a range of up to 260 km, the ST7 is the world’s first “Speed Pedelec” with new electronic Smart.Shift technology from Pinion, thus introducing vehicle driving dynamics to the e-bike. It combines reliable and virtually maintenance-free gear-shifting technology with the advantages of electronic shifting via a shift lever. Planning for additional Special and Limited Editions is currently underway.

  6. New research uncovers the economic and environmental benefits of the electric motorcycle

    Comments Off on New research uncovers the economic and environmental benefits of the electric motorcycle

    Source: Science Direct

    The potential to transform polluted city centres?

    Transportation accounts for 25% of total global CO2 emissions, primarily through fuel combustion. In many large cities, such as Barcelona and Madrid, combustion engine vehicle density has escalated air pollution levels to exceedingly high values. In line with European health legislation, many such cities have been forced to implement action plans to alleviate this issue; this includes low emission zones and vehicle environmental impact assessments.

    A current emerging trend is electrifying mobility, with electric vehicle ownership increasing by a factor of ten in the last 5 years. These vehicles are perceived to have a significantly lower environmental impact than their combustion engine counterparts. Carranza et al. now analyze this environmental disparity in the context of Barcelona and motorcycles – in Spain, there was an 8.7% growth of motorcycle registrations in 2021 compared to the previous year. Understanding the potential for developing battery-electric motorcycle technology to reduce the environmental impact of motorcycle use in Spain is therefore crucial for limiting the country’s emissions going forward.

    When analyzing the environmental impact of any vehicle there are multiple stages to consider – manufacturing, maintenance, operation, and disposal; however, the operational stage is where the most impact takes place. In internal combustion engine vehicles, direct emissions from fuel during their lifecycle equate to a value 10 times higher than their electric counterparts (6670 kgCO2-eq global warming potential compared to 650 kgCO2-eq). The source of electricity for battery electric vehicles does of course impact their individual emissions, doubling if supplied by purely coal plants; however, even at their highest point, operational emissions are still far below those of internal combustion vehicles.

    Electric vs combustion engine

    Considering all aspects of lifecycle, the global warming potential of battery-electric motorcycles is approximately one-fifth of internal combustion engine motorcycles, showing them to be a promising alternative. Regarding air pollution, the results of photochemical oxidation formation were 30% lower for electric motorcycles.

    Electromobility will play a fundamental role in the transformation of densely populated and pollution-troubled European cities such as Barcelona. To read the full open access study, offering additional analysis and findings, click here.