Delivering fair, accessible and eco-friendly mobility for an increasingly connected world.

Mobility is central to economic growth, social connection and community wellbeing. Yet transport systems are also major contributors to energy consumption and pollution, and many regions face significant challenges around accessibility, affordability and transport system resilience.

As societies move toward ambitious sustainability targets, new transport technologies including electric vehicles (EVs), smart charging, distributed energy storage and data‑driven mobility services are offering hope. However, their successful implementation requires a coordinated approach that crosses sectors, disciplines and cultural contexts.

The project leverages the complementary strengths of the University of Warwick, and Monash University campuses in Australia, Malaysia and Italy. Using these international hubs, the team, led by Professor Hai Vu, Deputy Dean (Research) for Monash’s Faculty of Engineering and Professor Paul Jennings, Pro Dean (Research) at the Warwick Manufacturing Group, will develop localised case studies with global relevance.

Professor Vu understands the interconnected nature of modern mobility, and deliberately brought in a research team with diverse expertise.

“While the engineering teams in the United Kingdom and Australia bring deep expertise in vehicle energy usage, electricity networks and transport infrastructure, colleagues in Italy and Malaysia contribute strengths in social policy, behavioural science, economic analysis and place‑based methodologies,” he said. “This type of approach is really needed to tackle the complex challenges of our time.”

Professor Jennings looks forward not only to the research itself, but the opportunity to nurture emerging talent who will stand the field in good stead.

“I’m really excited about the opportunities this project creates for PhD students and Research Fellows to gain hands‑on experience across engineering, social science and policy domains, as well as exposure to industry partners and real‑world trial environments.” he said.

The researchers will build multisector collaborations spanning government bodies, local authorities, transport agencies and industry partners. These networks will unlock access to high‑value datasets such as regional traffic coordination patterns, energy network information, and behavioural studies on mobility use, that typically remain difficult to obtain. By integrating this information, they’ll accelerate the translation of findings into real‑world policy, planning and engineering outcomes.

Together, the team will investigate at local levels how individual mobility choices, such as how, when and where EVs are used and charged affect energy demand, grid performance and infrastructure stress.

A major component of the program is the development of models and a framework that integrates diverse data sources and analytical tools. The framework will link vehicle‑level behaviours to broader energy and transport system performance, exploring how EVs can support grid resilience, store renewable energy and reduce total system consumption. This integrated approach will assist policymakers and industry leaders as they design strategies for large‑scale electrification and smart mobility transitions. The project is starting now, and will conclude in 2030.