Intelligent mobility

Through our experience advising local and state government and organisations, we have gained technical knowledge into the design, planning, electrical engineering, financial, social and environmental requirements of EVs and supporting infrastructure.

Our electric mobility clients include local, state and federal government, developers, policy makers, multinational organisations, energy regulators, industry stakeholders, advocacy groups and fleet managers.

Planning for change

Electric cars and public transport modes such as buses are pivotal to radically lowering emissions. But they can only succeed if supported by the enabling infrastructure and clean grid they need. Other low-emitting fuels, like hydrogen, can play a role too. 

Other new mobility models, such as demand-responsive vehicles, shared mobility and connected and autonomous vehicles present the potential to reshape travel patterns and the way our streets are used. Arup is helping cities and transport operators to plan for and adapt to this new era, by developing and implementing low emission transport at scale.

Find out more about our work with Canada Bay City Council

Learn more about our work with the Welsh government to establish a charging network 

We've also delivered an EV charging assessment on the UK motorway network.

And a charging network roadmap for Adelaide, Australia.

Increasingly connected vehicles and roadside infrastructure is providing real-time data access which in turn enables significant operational efficiencies. We support existing system developments and trials of new systems, bringing in our deep domain knowledge of how road and transport networks operate with significant digital and data management capability. Once trials have proven a concept, we can implement at scale and integrate solutions as part of the existing mobility ecosystem. 

For example, our work in Cork City supporting Ireland’s National Transport Authority to install more than 250 cycling detectors at 109 intersections in the City with the aim of increasing safety and encouraging uptake of cycling. Our work included identification of routes and intersection classification and analysis of traffic detection technologies.

As well as supporting the uptake of active travel modes, Intelligent Transport Systems are increasingly being used to manage traffic demand and improve safety on our roads and streets. Sensors providing live data sources, and cameras monitor traffic conditions and help decision makers to improve traffic flow by adjusting signals accordingly. 

We have helped Transport Infrastructure Ireland and National Highways develop real-time information to drivers, helping to reduce congestion and improve road user experience. The evolution of these systems is the use of AI and predictive analytics technologies to guide even faster decision making by operatives

Find out more about our work on the Lower Hudson Transit Link

Mobility pricing schemes take many forms including congestion charging, low emission zones, strategic network tolling or wider distance-based Road User Charging (RUC). Arup is working with policy makers, transport authorities, and private interests who want to improve how we integrate the way we price and pay for our local, regional and national transport networks.

Recognising public acceptability is a crucial pre-requisite to any mobility pricing scheme, we work with policy makers to deliver measures that are publicly palatable while producing the behavioural shifts and changes to road use necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.

Our approach starts from the individual and the desired social outcomes, to develop mobility pricing solutions that incorporate new technologies, new business models and platforms, while developing policies that our communities and leaders can support.  We are delivery focused, considering the implementation demands of mobility pricing schemes through procurement, deployment and operations from the outset.

Learn about our work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland

A new class of ride-sharing, in autonomous and connected vehicles, seems to promise lower congestion and lower emissions. But if poorly managed, the number of vehicles could actually increase. Sound planning has become an urgent priority for many cities wrestling with these innovations. 

There are many elements to consider: policies for changing street use; data governance and how new Mobility as a Service platforms (MaaS) could work; cyber security, changing safety issues, and many other implications. Arup is already working with cities and transport agencies around the world to prepare for this new era.

We helped Infrastructure Victoria in Australia to understand the potential transport engineering impacts, risks and opportunities presented by automated and zero emissions vehicles on local roads.

Fully autonomous vehicles are becoming a reality in certain areas such as ports. For cities and road networks, however, change is likely to be incremental and complex. CAVs share space with less enabled vehicles as well as cyclists and pedestrians. CAVs themselves present a confusing mix of technologies with different levels of connectivity and autonomy.

We are helping cities navigate these complexities. We headed up the UK Autodrive 3-year trial of CAVs in Milton Keynes. As well as trialling the technology, we explored how these frameworks will need to change and the governance demands this will place on data security.