In the rural Oltrepò Mantovano area of Lombardy, Italy, the RuralMED Mobility pilot in the Municipality of Suzzara has reached a significant milestone. Inaugurated on 3 November 2025 at Via Fratelli Montecchi, the pilot combines two public charging stations with a shared electric vehicle fleet, managed through a dedicated booking app, to bring accessible, low-carbon mobility to a semi-urban rural community.
Results that keep growing
Between the launch and May 2026, the service recorded 343 rentals, covering more than 23,863 km in fully electric mode. Applying the standard Italian emission factor for an average passenger car, this translates into an estimated 2.982.8 kg of CO₂ avoided compared to equivalent journeys made by private petrol or diesel cars — while saving local residents more than €3.000 in transport costs.
The two installed charging stations have been just as active, delivering 361 charging sessions and 5.323,75 kWh of clean energy over the same period. After an initial ramp-up, monthly rental volumes have stabilised at 45–58 trips per month, a clear sign that demand for shared electric mobility is not a one-off novelty but a lasting habit among Suzzara residents.
Impact beyond the numbers
In April 2026, the pilot’s original Renault ZOE vehicles were replaced with two BYD Dolphin electric cars, each equipped with a 60,48 kWh battery, ensuring continuity of service and even greater range for residents travelling to nearby towns for work, medical appointments, or shopping. The transition was carried out without interruption to the service, and booking activity through both vehicle generations has confirmed steady, sustained demand.
The pilot’s progress was also showcased on the international stage at the project’s 6th Transnational Forum, held across Portalegre (Portugal) and Badajoz (Spain), where Suzzara was presented as a concrete example of how rural territories across the Mediterranean can implement effective, well-used electric mobility services — proof that the investment made under RuralMED Mobility is delivering real, measurable benefits for a small rural community, not just on paper.
What comes next
Monitoring will continue through December 2026, tracking vehicle use, charging behaviour, and user satisfaction across all four key indicators — kWh charged, rentals, kilometres driven, and CO₂ saved. These results will feed into the project’s final evaluation and help the Consorzio Oltrepò Mantovano and other partners assess how similar shared electric mobility solutions can be replicated in rural territories elsewhere in the Mediterranean.
