Progress on Light Electric Vehicles Implementation: Current State of LIFE2M – Long Life to Micromobility Project

Electric bicycles, scooters, and cargo bikes are reshaping urban mobility for commuters and urban logistics, but to be a truly sustainable alternative to conventional motorized transport, they must be more durable, accessible, and better integrated into cities. LIFE2M (Long LIFE to Micromobility), an EU project coordinated by the University of Florence, tackles this by upgrading light electric vehicles with recycled or bio-based materials and replacing lithium-ion batteries with hybrid supercapacitors. These storage systems significantly cut charging time, extend service life, enhance thermal stability, and reduce maintenance needs. In parallel, LIFE2M will deploy lightweight, photovoltaic-powered charging stations in rapid-install units for cycle paths and structured hubs enabling complete charges. Pilots will be implemented in four cities with different urban and spatial contexts: Florence, Palermo, L’Aquila, and Brussels. This paper outlines the project’s rationale, scope, and methodology, discussing its potential to decarbonize urban transport through resilient, scalable micromobility infrastructure in practice.