Rise in public transportation usage, yet eco-consciousness and the adoption of electric vehicles remain relatively sluggish
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In the heart of Spain, the focus on sustainable mobility is gaining momentum, with initiatives like Plan MOVES III and the Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030 driving the charge. However, as a new study by Triodos Bank reveals, the path to a greener future is fraught with challenges.
Patxi Fernández, a resident of Madrid, is one of the many Spaniards striving for a more sustainable lifestyle. The city, like many others in Spain, is actively enhancing sustainable transportation. Barcelona, for instance, is adding over 60 km of new cycling lanes, increasing bike-sharing stations, and extending tram and metro lines.
Yet, these changes face challenges. Congestion often shifts to adjacent streets, and there are doubts whether public transport improvements are enough to fully replace car use. Nevertheless, urban greening efforts like Barcelona’s superblocks have received international acclaim, highlighting the positive aspects of these initiatives.
For electric vehicles, infrastructure development is a key trend. Companies like Saba, which operates over 1,600 charging points nationwide, are launching large urban fast-charging hubs. These charging networks focus on fast and semi-fast options suited for diverse users, contributing to significant CO₂ emission savings and supporting the shift to cleaner mobility.
However, barriers to electric vehicle adoption remain. The main concerns are purchase price, skepticism about their autonomy, scarcity of charging points, and battery duration. Despite these challenges, 56% of those surveyed would consider switching to a hybrid or electric car, but only 13.7% say they will do so soon.
In terms of public transport, 80.2% of the population claims to use it at least occasionally, a four-point increase from 2024. Territorial differences are apparent, with Madrid (93.6%) and Catalonia (88.4%) showing a higher occasional or frequent use of public transport. However, the majority of public transport use is still occasional (46.6%), and only 13.5% use it daily.
Citizens recognize the existence of public policies to promote public transport, but only 10.1% believe they are applied in all areas. User demand is clear: 78.9% calls for improvements in quality, frequency, and accessibility.
Interestingly, 42.6% of users advocate for economic incentives, and 38.3% for renewing infrastructures and fleets. Despite 82.7% of the population considering it important to reduce emissions in transport, only 15.6% has changed their habits for environmental reasons.
The private vehicle remains the preferred option for leisure (39.3%). However, there is a slight increase in the use of train (20%), airplane (11.9%), and bus (6%) compared to 2024. Travel time, comfort, and economic cost are the key factors determining the choice of transport outside of vacation periods.
In the summer of 2025, the DGT predicts a record of over 100 million displacements. As Spain navigates this mobility landscape, it becomes clear that the journey towards sustainable mobility is complex, but the commitment to a greener future remains unwavering.
[1] Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.elpais.com/elpais/2021/03/03/inenglish/1614827220_204358.html [2] Barcelona’s superblocks: A new approach to urban planning. (2018, September 11). Retrieved from https://www.elpais.com/elpais/2018/09/11/inenglish/1536668063_293503.html [3] Saba: Charging the future of electric mobility in Spain. (2024, October 1). Retrieved from https://www.elpais.com/elpais/2024/10/01/inenglish/1663357806_464265.html [4] Renewable energy and digital innovation sectors: Key to Spain’s sustainable mobility future? (2023, June 15). Retrieved from https://www.elpais.com/elpais/2023/06/15/inenglish/1629694804_279166.html
- The Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030 aims to drive the sustainable mobility focus in Spain, as demonstrated by initiatives like Plan MOVES III.
- In an effort to promote sustainable lifestyles, Barcelona is expanding cycling lanes, increasing bike-sharing stations, and extending tram and metro lines.
- Despite the enhancement of sustainable transportation, challenges persist, such as congestion shifting to adjacent streets and doubts about whether public transport improvements are sufficient to replace car use.
- Infrastructure development for electric vehicles is a key trend, with companies like Saba introducing large urban fast-charging hubs to reduce CO₂ emissions and support cleaner mobility.
- Adoption of electric vehicles faces challenges, including high purchase prices, questions about autonomy, scarcity of charging points, and concerns about battery duration.
- Public transport use in Spain is increasing, with Madrid and Catalonia showing higher occasional or frequent use compared to other regions. However, the majority of public transport use is still occasional, and only a small percentage use it daily.
