Barcelona, Spain – The bustling subway of Barcelona comes to a halt, as its doors open, allowing passengers to disembark and continue with their day. Unbeknownst to them, as they step out, a surge of energy is dispatched to the surface to facilitate the charging of electric vehicles.
In an initiative to enhance public transport sustainability, Barcelona has launched an innovative suite of clean energy technologies aimed at supporting its transit system while contributing positively to climate change mitigation and assisting Europe’s transition towards a privately owned electric vehicle landscape. The newly implemented MetroCharge project integrates regenerative braking systems at sixteen subway stations. This system harnesses energy generated from the brakes of the underground trains to supply power not only to the trains and their respective stations but also to electric vehicle charging stations above ground.
Bernardo Espinoza, a 49-year-old engineer who relies on the subway for his daily commute, expressed his delight about the new electric car charging availability. Having just discovered this service, he shared, “I am pleasantly surprised, because I have an electric car and am always looking for where to plug it in. And if it comes from metro’s braking energy, then even better.”
Regenerative braking is a technology that has been utilized in trains for many years and is becoming increasingly common in electric vehicles. This technology employs an electric motor that recovers energy during braking that would typically dissipate as heat with standard brakes. This recovered energy can either assist in propelling the vehicle forward or, as seen in Barcelona’s case, be transmitted via cables to power station facilities or charging stations for electric vehicles.
According to Alvaro Luna, an electrical engineering professor at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia, the project stands out for its capacity to repurpose recycled energy for local applications, specifically for nearby electric vehicles. Luna noted, “Since the recharging stations are nearby, the energy doesn’t just return to the general grid but is directly utilized to power charging stations, offering the provider potential lower pricing.” He characterized the innovation as a form of urban planning that effectively interconnects energy uses throughout the city.
Advancing energy efficiency has emerged as a crucial strategy in the efforts to curb rising global temperatures. At a United Nations climate summit last year, participating nations endorsed a commitment to double energy efficiency by 2030.
Jordi Picas, from TMB, the organization managing Barcelona’s subway, mentioned that the public agency anticipates recovering the 7.3 million euros (approximately $7.6 million) invested in MetroCharge within four years, aided by lower energy costs and EU funding. This initiative not only employs solar panels but also meets all electrical requirements for 28 out of the city’s 163 subway stations, encompassing elements from lighting to elevators and ventilation, leading to a 6% reduction in overall energy consumption for the subway, which serves about 2.3 million passengers daily.
As this initiative unfolds, doubts about the pace and costs associated with the EU’s green transition arise, especially as member states strive to phase out combustion engines while maintaining robust environmental protection standards. Spain, along with its Mediterranean neighbors, is increasingly impacted by climate change, evidenced by rising instances of severe droughts and extreme weather, including recent catastrophic floods in Valencia.
In 2021, Spain’s government unveiled an ambitious electric vehicle strategy supported by EU post-pandemic recovery funds, successfully incentivizing private investment, such as the recent announcement of a lithium battery factory in Zaragoza by Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and automaker Stellantis. However, Spain faces challenges similar to those of the broader European auto sector, as the EU considers implementing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to bolster domestic manufacturers.
With its expansive territory, Spain has a considerable hurdle to overcome in establishing sufficient charging infrastructure. Currently, the nation boasts around 37,000 charging points, far below its 100,000 target set in 2021, as reported by ANFAC, the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers.
While the Barcelona subway initiative provides a valuable template for urban planners aiming to optimize energy usage, significant efforts remain necessary to facilitate broader adoption of electric vehicles. Ángel García voiced support for the subway’s charging initiative while charging his hybrid taxi, yet stressed the need for more government assistance in promoting electric vehicle purchases, stating, “People don’t really go for electric cars here.”
