Innovative Light ELEctric Vehicles for Active and Digital TravEl (ELEVATE): reducing mobility-related energy demand and carbon emissions

The ELEVATE project aims to understand the role that light electric vehicles can play in reducing car travel. There are currently a number of barriers to using light electric vehicles. E-boards and e-scooters remain illegal for use in the UK except on private land or as part of a trial. E-bikes are expensive, making secure storage and locks a concern. Larger e-bikes such as cargo e-bikes, e-trikes and e-quadricycles offer alternatives to petrol-based delivery and transport but require curb-side space and charging points. In addition to these practical barriers there are concerns over safety and the use of new technologies.

For light electric vehicles to play a part in sustainability agendas, policies and interventions to overcome these barriers will be required. This project will provide findings and guidelines to support medium-sized cities and other localities evaluate and introduce policies to support the adoption of electric vehicles as alternatives to petrol or diesel-fuelled travel.

This project aims to explore how light electric vehicles for active and digital travel can play a key role in reducing mobility related energy demand and carbon emissions.

With a focus on the cities of Brighton, Oxford, Leeds and Eindhoven, ELEVATE's research objectives are to:

(1) Understand the supply side, i.e. the technology pathways of LEVATs (Light Electric Vehicles for Active Travel: e-bikes, cargo e-bikes, e-scooters, e-boards, e-trikes, e-quadricycles);
(2) Understand the demand side, i.e. the utilisation pathways, by analysing existing (early adopter) use through surveys,
interviews, online material, and evaluation of case studies;
(3) Understand non-use (barriers to mainstream uptake - demand side) through technology trials, surveys and public
demonstrators (Brighton, Leeds, Oxford), e.g. issues around unfamiliarity of technology, range anxiety, cost, safety,
storage, perceptions;
(4) Understand technology-utilisation (supply/demand) interactions, i.e. how vehicles are charged, the battery technology,
standards, re-charging cycles, integration with private public charging infrastructure;
(5) Understand how e-mobility and digital technologies work together around uptake of these novel modes (e.g. apps, GPS
tracking, smart energy meters, Mobility as a Service, tracking of cargo, self-monitoring);
(6) Develop transport energy environment systems model for calculating the life cycle energy use and carbon emission
savings of LEVATs and compare to the substituted modes of transport; and
(7) Evaluate the project impact activities to understand the uptake of project findings by industry, policy and end users.