{"id":9902,"date":"2025-08-27T12:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rivistaeco.com\/?p=9902"},"modified":"2025-08-27T12:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:10:46","slug":"the-silent-revolution-of-electric-mobility-in-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rivistaeco.com\/en\/2025\/08\/27\/the-silent-revolution-of-electric-mobility-in-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silent Revolution of Electric Mobility in Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cities are where electric vehicles deliver the greatest benefits\u2014both environmental and economic. Lower emissions, reduced noise, and lower operating costs compared to traditional models improve both health and household budgets for urban residents. And it is precisely where vehicles are numerous and heavily used that electric mobility spreads the fastest. Naturally, as with any transition, risks exist: widening inequalities, negative fiscal impacts, increased road congestion, and challenges linked to autonomous driving, to name a few. But the benefits of electric mobility are clear, and giving them up would be a mistake. What is needed instead are inclusive policies capable of guiding the transformation and turning it into a sustainable opportunity for all. <\/em>Electric vehicles bring environmental and economic benefits to cities, which in turn can act as engines for the diffusion of this technology. Yet, as with every transition, there are risks along the way, and managing them wisely will be crucial.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The environmental benefits of electric mobility are many. Chief among them is the higher energy efficiency of electric vehicles\u2014an especially important factor in a context where diversifying energy sources is increasingly necessary for both economic and geopolitical reasons. When the shift to electric mobility is combined with reduced reliance on fossil fuels, thanks to the lower production costs of low-emission energy, these benefits become even greater. Added to this are significant noise reductions\u2014especially at low speeds\u2014and improved air quality. These benefits are particularly relevant in cities, where populations are most exposed to pollution and, consequently, where the associated health costs are highest.<\/p>\n

Let us now turn to the strictly economic advantages. Despite still-high battery costs, electric vehicles are cheaper than traditional ones on a per-kilometer basis, thanks to lower energy consumption. This holds true even in Italy, though higher electricity prices\u2014driven by the country\u2019s heavy reliance on gas\u2014reduce the advantage compared to other European countries.<\/p>\n

But where does electric mobility perform best economically? In urban areas, where combustion vehicles consume more; with high-utilization vehicles, where operating costs are lower; in cases where charging can be done at home, at work, or at logistics depots (for buses and commercial fleets), where infrastructure costs are contained and usage rates higher; and when electric mobility is paired with low-emission electricity, which has lower production costs than fossil fuels.<\/p>\n

Urban settings also allow better management of electricity demand flexibility, leveraging electric vehicle battery storage capacity. This helps lower electricity costs by optimizing grid use and supporting renewable energy production, particularly solar and wind.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, cities are the natural epicenter of electric mobility\u2019s advantages.<\/p>\n

Cities Accelerate Electric Mobility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cities are among the main beneficiaries of the shift to electric mobility, but they also serve as crucial drivers of its rapid adoption.<\/p>\n

Every day, thousands of vehicles circulate in urban areas\u2014buses, taxis, delivery vans\u2014covering dozens of kilometers. These vehicles contribute most to urban pollution but also stand to gain the most economically from adopting highly efficient technologies like electric power. For these reasons, they are ideal candidates for a swift, large-scale transition to low-emission solutions. Their intensive use also maximizes battery capacity and charging infrastructure efficiency, further lowering costs. It is no coincidence that already today, 40% of new urban buses purchased in European cities are electric.<\/p>\n

Private mobility also benefits: urban trips made with electric cars, motorcycles, scooters, and light vehicles are particularly advantageous, as they are less affected by charging limitations\u201470\u201375% of trips are under ten kilometers.<\/p>\n

But it is not only about trip length. Cities provide structural conditions favorable to the spread of electric mobility: average incomes are higher than in rural areas, thanks to greater productivity and a larger share of highly educated residents; moreover, digital infrastructures are more advanced, making it easier to adopt innovative technologies.<\/p>\n

In this context, electric mobility can significantly improve urban livability\u2014environmentally, energetically, and socially\u2014producing benefits for both individuals and communities at large.<\/p>\n

A Transition Not Without Risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the advantages of going electric are clear, especially in cities, risks and challenges remain. For instance, urban areas may lack sufficient space for renewable energy generation facilities, creating supply issues. Or access to low-cost charging infrastructure may be limited, particularly in neighborhoods lacking viable alternatives to private transport. This raises concerns about social inequality, especially since public charging points typically involve higher installation costs than home or workplace stations.<\/p>\n

Similar issues apply to the scarcity of affordable electric vehicles, particularly in Western markets where manufacturers have so far focused on high-end segments.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, because electric mobility reduces operating costs, it may encourage increased traffic\u2014an especially problematic outcome in cities where roads are already near capacity. The risk is even greater with autonomous driving, which could multiply trips made by empty vehicles if shared use is not promoted.<\/p>\n

The fiscal impact of the electric transition must also be considered: as revenues from fuel excise taxes and VAT decline, significant budget imbalances may arise. Reforms will be needed to safeguard fiscal space, especially to protect the most vulnerable groups from the social impacts of the transition.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Up to Us to Decide the Direction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Electric mobility is now a consolidated reality worldwide. Cities, in particular, stand to reap substantial benefits and, thanks to their specific characteristics, can play a key role in accelerating the transition. Ignoring this opportunity would mean risking being left behind\u2014with potentially serious consequences.<\/p>\n

Yet analyzing the implications of this now-inevitable shift is far from simple, as it extends well beyond transport and urban dynamics, intersecting with energy, environmental, fiscal, social, and industrial issues.<\/p>\n

That is why it will be essential not only to accompany the transition but to craft public policies capable of guiding it in ways that maximize collective benefits. Doing so will require a step change in the capacity of all economic actors to act\u2014especially in the context of rapid digital progress.<\/p>\n

The most effective tools are those that foster technological transition while managing its downsides. Countries further along this path provide valuable examples: from expanding access to low-cost, low-emission electricity through the development of energy communities, to fiscal reforms covering the infrastructure and social costs of transition\u2014for instance, distance-based road pricing or taxes on emissions from combustion vehicles, combined with redistributive mechanisms. In some cases, economic incentives and regulations have been introduced to expand the supply of electric vehicles in the most affordable market segments\u2014an important factor for industrial competitiveness against international rivals. Other measures aim to facilitate access to charging infrastructure, to reduce social inequalities, alongside investments, regulations, and urban planning choices designed to improve road infrastructure while favoring space-efficient transport modes.<\/p>\n

Rules and price signals are also needed to prevent negative effects from rising mobility demand\u2014particularly in the case of vehicles, including autonomous ones, that travel with only one passenger or with little load, even if they are electric.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, it is up to us to decide whether to seize the opportunities of the electric transition\u2014or risk bearing its costs without reaping its benefits.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pierpaolo Cazzola is Director of the European Transport and Energy Research Center at the Institute for Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis. He is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy of Columbia University\u2019s School of International and Public Affairs.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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