Partner News: TECNALIA

Date: 02 March 2010

 CITYELEC singular strategic project was launched October 2009, boasts a budget of €19.0 million financed partially by the Spanish Department of Science and Innovation, and represents a milestone in the vehicle electrification R&D initiatives in Spain.

The project gathers the efforts of different companies (automotive and electric), research centres, universities and cities.

With a duration of four years the project will make possible the development of new concepts of electrical vehicles and recharge infrastructures for urban environments.

The Cityelec project is focused on the key elements both in vehicle and infrastructure for new concepts of electrified mobility in urban environment. The objectives are the following:

• Search for solutions for the introduction of new mobility systems in urban environment.
• Research on electric powertrain systems and the dedicated infrastructure associated with the electric vehicles.
• Demonstrate the impact of the research with a field test in two Spanish cities (involving electric vehicles and the related infrastructure).
• Generate knowledge and industrial property in the field of the vehicle electrification.

The main challenges are related to the definition of the CITYELEC system, suited to fulfil actual and future urban transport needs, that will allow personal mobility with a minimal carbon print in the near future, by means of:

• Development of a fleet of light electric vehicles (scooters, city cars and small buses).
• Development of infrastructure elements: Urban transformer station with energy storage capability, local urban energy generators (photovoltaic, windmill, others..).
• New concepts for management of electrical power from renewable sources on the grid, focused on maximum storage of renewable energy for mobility.
• Cityelec project will end performing physical test in two cities (San Sebastian and Zaragoza) with vehicles and infrastructure, validating the research and development.

For further information, please contact Iñaki Iglesias: iiglesias@robotiker.es