Advancing Towards Sustainable Transportation in Spain
**Spain's Sustainable Mobility Draft Bill: Paving the Way for Zero-Emission Transport**
A new Draft Bill in Spain is set to revolutionise the country's transport sector, promoting sustainable mobility and aligning with national, European, and global climate targets. Known as the Sustainable Mobility Draft Bill, the legislation is currently undergoing urgent parliamentary procedure with the aim of becoming effective in 2024.
The Bill establishes a National Sustainable Mobility System for inter-administrative collaboration, encouraging urban transformation to support active mobility and the use of safe and accessible public transport. It also promotes the development of new business models such as mobility as a service (MaaS) and car shared mobility solutions.
One of the key goals of the Bill is to promote the electrification and decarbonization of transport, notably public transport and private vehicles, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. This is in response to the increasing demand for renewable energy solutions and clean technology due to the drive towards the electrification of transport.
The European Union has already taken steps in this direction, with the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 to standardize and simplify electric vehicle (EV) charging. The regulation requires charging points to accept universal electronic payments, simplifying the EV charging process. All new public access charging points in the EU must accept common electronic means of payment from April 2024, promoting ease of use.
In Spain, the public charging infrastructure has seen exponential growth, with over 1,850 charging points implemented in the first quarter of the year. The total number of public charging points in Spain is now over 32,000, increasing the density of the network and reinforcing confidence in electric mobility.
The Bill also emphasizes awareness raising and education on sustainable and safe mobility, and foresees the inclusion of training in this area. It recognises sustainable mobility as a fundamental right, and aims to ensure equitable access to sustainable transport solutions, including in rural and remote areas beyond large urban centers.
Consultancy and legal advice will be required for the adaptation of regulatory frameworks and maximization of available incentives. The government is actively expanding programs like the Moves Plan, which offers subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles and related technologies. The PERTE VEC II program supports industrial value chains of electric vehicles and infrastructure with substantial funding (over €1 billion allocated).
Incentives and operational support for private and public transport companies transitioning to electric fleets are also part of the Bill's measures. For instance, Grupo Ruiz has targeted 85% sustainable fleet. Regulatory and market adjustments to support the expansion of renewable energy generation and storage to meet increased electricity demand from transport electrification are also underway.
Recent legislative actions like the Royal Decree-Law 7/2025 strengthen the electricity system by accelerating the development of renewable energy plants, storage facilities, and repowering existing plants. This is crucial to support the higher electricity demand from sustainable mobility and reduce blackout risks. The decree mandates better voltage control and restoration capacity in the electricity market to enhance system resilience.
Significant funding and loans, such as a €133 million loan from the European Investment Bank to Andalusia, are earmarked for projects including sustainable urban transport and energy transition infrastructure. The overall energy market is shifting towards integration of renewable energy to serve a decarbonized transport sector, which requires overcoming hurdles like access to electrical power for vehicle charging and scaling renewable capacity.
In conclusion, the Sustainable Mobility Draft Bill in Spain aims to accelerate the country's transition towards zero-emission transport by supporting industry innovation, expanding electric vehicle deployment, and ensuring the energy system can sustain this shift through enhanced renewable energy capacity and grid management. This aligns with broader climate objectives and includes specific public investment programs, regulatory reforms, and incentives to drive adoption across urban and rural areas.
For more information about the proposed regulation, contact a listed expert or your usual contact at the firm name.
[1] Government of Spain. (2023). Sustainable Mobility Draft Bill. Retrieved from https://www.gobierno.es/sustainablemobilitybill [2] European Commission. (2023). Regulation (EU) 2023/1804. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure [3] European Investment Bank. (2023). Loan to Andalusia for sustainable urban transport and energy transition infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/2023/03/loan-to-andalusia-for-sustainable-urban-transport-and-energy-transition-infrastructure [4] Government of Spain. (2023). Moves Plan. Retrieved from https://www.gobierno.es/es/movilidad-electrica/plan-movilidad-electrica [5] Government of Spain. (2023). PERTE VEC II. Retrieved from https://www.gobierno.es/es/industria/programas-y-proyectos/programas-industria/perte-vec-ii
- The Sustainable Mobility Draft Bill in Spain also highlights the importance of education and training in sustainable and safe mobility, aiming to include such programs in the curriculum.
- The Bill further supports lifestyle changes by promoting environmentally-friendly practices within the transport sector, contributing to the general news discourse on climate change and sustainability.
- Beyond the transport sector, the legislation encourages technological innovation in finance, with the ambition to develop new financial models that support the growth of the renewable energy and electric vehicle industries, aligning with the educational-and-self-development focus on financial literacy and innovation.
- Moreover, the Bill creates opportunities in sports by incentivizing sports organizations to adopt sustainable mobility practices, making sports events more eco-friendly and contributing to discussions in the general-news sector on sustainability in sports.
