European Project E-MED

Increasing capacities of PTO and PTA in the EURO MED area by testing novel solutions to effectively manage public transport’s transition towards energy efficiency and resource-efficiency

Interreg EURO-MED Programme 2021-2027, Thematic Call 2

Runtime: 01.02.2024 – 30.09.2026

TheTA is collaborating with other partners in the E-MED project (Increasing capacities of PTO and PTA in the EURO MED area by testing novel solutions to effectively manage public transport’s transition towards energy-efficiency and resource-efficiency) to achieve a sustainable and energy-efficient future for public transport.

E-MED tests and validates solutions to increase energy-efficiency and resource-efficiency of public transport systems to reduce public transport’s environmental footprint drastically, and to react flexibly to changing energy prices caused by the current energy crisis. This challenge affects in particular local public authorities, public transport infrastructure and energy providers, but also industry suppliers of electric vehicles and service operators. Thus, E-MED solutions are developed to increase energy-efficiency and share of renewable energy sources, (e.g., tools for fleet, network planning, driver support, AI supported maintenance of energy systems), and to increase resource-efficiency and resilience, (e.g., re-use of batteries and rainwater, maintenance of tires, procurement guidelines) support in the evidence-based planning and introduction of e-bus systems to help objective decision-taking and smart planning, investing and procurement from the start. This way, E-MED solutions support the right design of a PT system through smart organization and planning of networks and operations, optimized charging concepts, optimal use of engineering technology, and capacity building around more “human” topics like eco-driving. As key enablers to reduce energy consumption and to increase the lifetime of PT fleet and infrastructure, E-MED solutions with focus on end-user needs provide orientation to both buyers and industry. Based on the testing and validation of E-MED solutions, strategies and action plans are optimized in a participatory co-design approach with stakeholders from the public transport and energy community.

E-MED is committed to testing and integrating solutions into active public transport systems to improve energy performance. The project prioritizes the following areas:

1. Training and Decision-Making Tools: Developing training programs and resources that enable informed investment decisions for energy-efficient transport.
2. Operational Efficiency: Implementing strategies to optimize the energy performance of public transport operations.
3. Resource-Efficient Solutions: Creating methods that enhance the sustainable use of resources in electric public transport.
4. Strategic Planning for Electrification: Collaborating on plans that support the sustainable scale-up of electric public transportation.

E-MED is a partnership of 10 key players, including public transport organizations, city administrations, as well as knowledge partners renowned in the transport and energy field. To enlarge this cooperation, associated partners like UITP, University of Lisbon, and CARNET are strategically involved to maximise communication outreach and knowledge transfer of results.

E-MED is poised to lead the EURO-MED region toward a sustainable and energy-efficient future for public transportation.

Project partners:
Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona (ES), Lead Partner
APPLUS IDIADA, Santa Oliva (ES)
University of Maribor (SI)
Transport Authority of Thessaloniki (EL)
Centre for Research and Technology Hellas CERTH (EL)
Transportes Urbanos y Servicios Generales, S.A.L., Barcelona (ES)
Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa E.M., S.A. (PT)
Municipality of Maribor (SI)
ATB Mobility S.p.A., Bergamo (IT)
Redmint s.c.r.l. (IT)

Associated partners:
Javno podjetje za mestni potniški promet Marprom, d. o. o., Maribor (SI)
Municipality od Bergamo (IT)
Major Development Agency Thessaloniki (MDAT S. A.) (EL)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE) (EL)
CARNET-Fundació Centre d’Innovació i Tecnologia de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona (ES)
Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa. CESUR-Centre for Urban and Regional Systems (PT)
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) (BE)
Olesa General Transports, Barcelona (ES)
Municipality of Lisbon (PT)

The project in numbers:
Project partners: 10
Pilot regions: 5
Project budget: 2,98 Mio. Euro
ERDF co-financing: 2,38 Mio. Euro

The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

For more information visit the E-MED website: https://e-med.interreg-euro-med.eu/