Technologies for the implementation of electric mobility in urban areas of the Western Balkans

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call for action to end poverty, protect our planet's environment and climate, and provide opportunities for all people to enjoy peace and prosperity. Decarbonizing the transport sector is key to achieving the UN and EU climate goals. Under the Paris Agreement, EU countries have committed to making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve the goal of net neutrality, EU countries have set a goal to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors (especially transport) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to continue to gradually reduce emissions by 2050, when there should be zero greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors. The Regional Development Strategy, i.e. the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, aims to respond to the challenges of climate change and green transition and to help the countries of the Western Balkans harmonize environmental regulations with European standards and norms. Electric mobility and management of E mobility is becoming a decisive element in the smart and sustainable development of cities and local communities as one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The transition to electric mobility (e-mobility) in urban areas requires a combination of infrastructure, smart grid technologies, vehicle advances, and digital platforms to ensure efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability. Several cities around the world have successfully integrated e-mobility technologies into their urban transport systems. The paper analyses cities that showcase different aspects of electric mobility transformation, with a detailed analysis of the financial investments and economic benefits associated with e-mobility projects in each of the selected cities. Western Balkan cities are gradually adopting e-mobility solutions through subsidies for electric vehicles, expansion of charging infrastructure, electrification of public transport, and integration of micro-mobility. This paper analyses cities in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, the challenges in fully adopting e-mobility, and their efforts to implement smart and sustainable urban transport solutions.