Rivalry or collaboration? The implementation of first and second generation electromobility in urban public transport – a theoretical approach.

The electrification of urban public transport is an interesting problem for cities. Finding the right solution for a city is complicated because it should take into account both the characteristics of the means of transport (first or second generation electromobility) and a complex mosaic of local and urban factors. The main aim of this paper is to conceptualise electromobility in the context of a spatial urban transport system. The concept of sustainable mobility explicitly emphasises the role of public transport and electromobility in a city. The role of public transport in densely populated urbanised areas is crucial and is not limited to meeting mobility needs (a mobility paradigm), but is also an important element in the functioning of a city in a social, human, natural and economic context (a sustainability paradigm). The article highlights the somewhat neglected spatial aspect both in terms of spatial diversity but also a spatial scale. The article identifies various factors that should be taken into account when choosing electromobility. One significant factor should be spatial considerations, including the importance of transport lines. The article proposes assumptions for an electromobility model taking spatial aspects into account. Electromobility should be implemented in different ways, depending on the scale of a city, its internal structure and the volume of transport flows and the existing – but also desired – modal split. The above considerations of the spatial aspects of electromobility implementation are based on studies for Poland, but they are universal.