The work on mobility and electrifying transport has grown with several initiatives and projects emerging in Lund. One of these projects is EVolution Road, which is completely unique of its kind. With a goal to reduce society’s dependence on fossil fuels and finding sustainable alternatives for transportation of people and goods on our roads, EVolution Road (formerly Elväg Syd) will demonstrate and test a ‘charging’ road, or so called electric road. In short, this means that a kilometre long stretch of Getingevägen in Lund will be fitted with rails that automatically charge the batteries on electric vehicles – both when the vehicles are moving and when they are stationary. The concept EVolution Road that Elonroad are building also includes intelligent wireless communication between the road and vehicles, automated payments and security solutions. The test bed is scheduled to be opened in early June. Work on the electric road is led by Innovation Skåne with the support of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

The upcoming project has driven the establishment of the Mobility Node South, which means there will now be an exhibition space and a physical meeting place near the electric road. Visiting groups can therefore come to the venue to get a tour of the technology behind the electric road.

– Evolution Road is an educational project, and our ambition is that we will not only test and develop new knowledge about the electric road but also spread this knowledge. We want more people to understand what electric roads are and why they can be an important part of the solution to a sustainable traffic system. With an exhibition it will be easier to inspire and spread that knowledge – here you should be able to ask questions, feel and touch, among other things by testing in a simulator and watching films, says Malin Larsson of Innovation Skåne.

The node allows several initiatives linked to the EVolution Road and mobility to be brought together. The partnership has an ambition to create a meeting and discussion forum where good examples can be shown and where smart and sustainable mobility solutions can be presented. In this space, different stakeholders can meet, discuss and develop future solutions to common challenges within transport and logistics. There will also be seminars, training initiatives and conferences that are linked to the overall project aim.

– An important component of future sustainable mobility is the possibility to showcase, share and market successful solutions and new innovative mobility solutions, says Peter Kisch, project manager at Future by Lund. We want to take advantage of the expected visitors that will come to the region thanks to the electric road project and to promote the work on sustainable mobility, the project and partners in an international context.

The core members of the start-up for the meeting place are Innovation Skåne and EVolution Road, ElonRoad, Ideon Science Park, Castellum, Future by Lund and Lunds kommun. In time the collaboration will include more interested parties and organizations.

– The high level of expertise with embedded software and connectivity has in recent years attracted several interested players in vehicle manufacturing to Ideon Science Park in Lund. The transport of people and goods in the future is one of their most growing fields and includes everything from connectivity, mobility, infrastructure, combustion/electrification, self-driving vehicles and last-mile solutions, says Mia Rolf, CEO of Ideon Science Park.

Castellum owns the property Reuterdahl at Scheelevägen 16 where the activities will be clustered.

– To offer a place for the mobility node is a way to seize an opportunity in an industry that is growing fast, says Ola Gunnefur, project manager of rentals at Castellum. Castellum’s ambition with the physical investment of Scheelevägen 16 is to make it clearer and easier for businesses and organizations to collaborate if there are also appropriate gathering places. Already there are companies such as Smarter Mobility that are connected to mobility issues in the building, which further strengthens the venture. Now it will be easier to run forums for knowledge development, networking, and research and development activities.

There are high hopes for the new mobility node. One advantage hoped for is that stakeholders participating through a collaborative forum can create the conditions that identify the challenges which can lead to innovation and innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions.  

– A mobility node gives us in Lund greater opportunities to streamline and improve the quality of the joint mobility efforts, says Anders Bengtsson of Lund municipality. It is good that we continue to develop the collaboration of Drive Sweden, Trafikverket, ITS with others in well-defined projects where common needs are addressed and opportunities are utilized. We will also be able to work actively to link national programs and platforms to Lund’s own infrastructural and strategic programs. The establishment of a mobility node will strengthen not only the municipality of Lund, but also the Skåne and Öresund region’s ability to contribute to and benefit from the development of future mobility and traffic solutions.

When the electric road on Getingevägen is opened it will be possible for the public, school children, businesses and others to make study visits. Email for more information: info@evolutionroad.se

Picture: The mobility node at Ideon Science Park gathers several stakeholders within mobility. From left: Anders Bengtsson, Lunds Kommun; Anna Wilkens, Innovation Skåne; Anders Nilsson, Innovation Skåne; Ola Gunnefur, Castellum; Malin Larsson, Innovation Skåne; Emilia Hasselgren, Castellum.

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Translation: Ben Dohrmann