Energy-efficient urban and sub-urban public transport, complemented by shared mobility

Expected outcome

This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission by accelerating the transition towards climate neutrality in cities. To this end, project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Cities involved in this action advance in achieving their climate neutrality targets, reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions by improving energy efficiency in urban and sub-urban public transport systems , complemented by urban mobility service car fleets – taxis, ride-hailing, car sharing and other active and shared mobility services . Comprehensive inventory and assessment of existing instruments and measures to foster electrification and attractiveness of urban and sub-urban public transport systems , urban mobility service car fleets and shared mobility, accompanied by targeted guidance for responsible authorities, operators and providers through integration of measures to improve energy efficiency in public transport and new shared mobility services. Upscaling of innovative and sustainable integrated mobility solutions , identifying gaps and shortcomings in existing systems and exchanging of best practices in the pilot sites involved in the action leading to a state-of-the-art of electrification and attractiveness of urban and suburban public transport with complementary urban mobility service car fleets and other active and shared mobility solutions . Enhanced assessment tools to quantify the direct benefits and associated co-benefits of decarbonised urban mobility service car fleets and of new shared mobility solutions complementary to public transport (including evaluation of impacts on modal shift, increased intermodal mobility and diverse user needs), the trade-off analysis between different solution and the recommendation of the most suitable implementation strategies, thereby helping to attract public investments. Further progress towards achieving the targets set by relevant EU strategies and policies such as the Zero Pollution Action Plan [1] , the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy [2] , the new EU Urban Mobility Framework [3] , the Decarbonise Corporate Fleets Communication [4] and the Energy Efficiency Directive [5] .

Scope

Public transport is firmly at the centre of sustainable urban mobility policies at EU level and across Member States, in complementarity with active mobility and shared mobility services. However more needs to be done to make sure that urban and suburban public passenger transport, including coaches, and urban mobility service car fleets are energy efficient and attractive , contributing to climate neutrality targets as well as to cleaner and healthier urban and sub-urban environments. In addition, an optimal integration of public transport with other/new shared mobility services can increase its uptake by offering services that are complementary, offering coherent solutions allowing interconnection between mass transit and “last-mile” solutions. Designing urban and sub-urban systems that are energy-efficient and attractive and are tailored for complementary mobility options requires different thinking: e.g. new approaches to integrated urban planning; changes to or upgrades of infrastructure and redistribution of public space; better use of data and technology solutions to enable effective multimodality, including leveraging AI solutions; targeted local policies to promote and integrate different mobility options, to increase connectivity especially in peri-urban, rural, and underserved areas throughout the city, extending beyond the city centre. The objective of this topic is to explore and test solutions to increase energy-efficiency and attractiveness of urban and sub-urban public transport, urban mobility service car fleets, and other active and shared mobility solutions, in the pilot sites involved in the proposals, including by facilitating exchange of experiences and good practices and fostering learning at European level . The work should lead to an updated and comprehensive overview of the state of the art of the electrification of urban and sub-urban public transport systems , and urban mobility service car fleets and shared mobility solutions, including

What this means for cities and regions

A direct EU funding route for cities deploying energy-efficient urban and sub-urban public transport, integrated with shared and active mobility services. Designed for transport operators, municipal authorities and metropolitan transport organisations across the EU's 100+12 Mission Cities and beyond. Project size around €10 million × 2 grants; consortium-based; close 8 October 2026. Strong space-data fit for fleet optimisation, real-time public-transport analytics, modal-share monitoring, and Galileo PRS-based positioning.