Smart mobility in Africa

The urban population of Africa is increasing exponentially compared to Europe, and in fact it is forecasted that the urban inhabitants will grow by 62% until 2050. Nowadays, more than 30% of the population does not have access to electrical and thermal energy. The Global Sustainable Development Goals have set established worldwide access to sustainable energy by 2030. At this particular historical moment, in Africa, equitable, sustainable energy and responsible energy industries should be promoted to ensure access to clean energy for the population but also to services such as transport systems and the water. The World Bank reports “that a country’s growth in measured gross domestic product is directly curtailed by poor public transport infrastructure.” Access to these key elements is essential to reduce deficit and drive economic development, and a sustainable approach is also needed to plan energy services and smart mobility. Africa will become “the next big market” determined by fast rise of emerging economies. The smart cities, thanks also to sustainable mobility, will represent the key element in Africa to ensure improved quality of life for Africans, decreased energy use, and environmental influence, bringing benefits globally. Fundamental in the ongoing development countries and beyond will become the implementation of smart grids and Internet of Things (IoT), electric vehicles, and charging systems, the spread of the 5G network, a new holistic vision of the territory where the user is transformed into a hub, and being a prosumer and a user of new technologies, thanks to the renewable energy widespread throughout the territory (solar, hydroelectric, wind). The number of electric vehicles in Africa has the potential to significantly increase by 2030, and the challenge will also be in charging infrastructure, powered by grid-connected or off-grid renewable solutions, in step with market interests. This chapter wants to give a holistic view of the transportation system in African cities, so that decision makers and future research can build smart cities that can give real opportunities for improvement for developing countries such as Africa. A key consideration is the challenge of knowing what needs to be developed first; there are so many priorities to be addressed, so it is not clear to the decision makers themselves, to politicians, on what needs to be focused, even in terms of investments, and yet, this effort could be the most effective way for Africa to seize the opportunities that technology can offer, guaranteeing their position as the energy supplier of tomorrow, all over Europe.