Urban spaces, including roads, are a scarce commodity, which must accommodate the needs of different users, including car drivers, pedestrians, and all kinds of transport modes. However, the growing trend of car-obesity has exacerbated the conflict between car drivers and vulnerable road users, as well as making shared spaces less safe, and therefore, less attractive. It is imperative that cities and regions are provided with the right tools to tackle the spread of bigger, heavier, and taller car models like SUVs in urban contexts.

Research & innovation projects can help to develop and test novel solutions aiming to support local and regional authorities in providing an effective response to the growing mismatch between urban mobility needs and prevailing vehicle trends. In this context, the EU-funded GIANTS project is advancing the development of frugal, zero-emission vehicles tailored for city environments. A recent thematic session hosted by the Clean Vehicles & Air Quality Working Group brought together experts and stakeholders to explore the project’s innovative, user-centred approach and its potential contribution to more sustainable, space-efficient urban transport systems.

Pedro Gomes (POLIS) opened the event by addressing the mounting concerns surrounding the size, weight, and environmental impact of SUVs. He highlighted that while these vehicles often transport an average of just 1.5 passengers, their expanding dimensions are driven more by perceived safety and social status than actual utility. In densely populated urban areas, their size, combined with the additional weight from batteries in electric models, presents significant risks to pedestrians and cyclists. Pedro noted that while cities are beginning to take regulatory steps, tackling this trend requires broader collaboration, with innovation projects like GIANTS playing a key role.

Introducing the GIANTS Project: A new approach to vehicle design

Pius Sonnberger (Virtual Vehicle) provided an overview of the GIANTS project’s mission-driven approach. The project aims to bridge the gap between small, light L-category vehicles and heavier M-N1 vehicles by creating a new class of frugal, zero-emission transport options. Thirteen demonstrator vehicles are being developed by Renault and Toyota, featuring innovations such as swappable batteries and rooftop solar panels to enhance efficiency and sustainability. A central innovation is the Mission Suitability Index—an evaluation tool that assesses how well vehicle designs meet actual use cases, helping to avoid over-engineering and unnecessary complexity.

User-centric design: Understanding people's needs

Tomi Nord (I2M) presented findings from the project’s extensive user needs assessment, which included feedback from diverse stakeholders such as end users, public authorities, fleet operators, and OEMs. Using personas, Kano analysis, and other user-centric methodologies, the project identified key expectations across user profiles. Safety emerged as a top priority, particularly for older users. Tomi emphasised that over-engineering remains a barrier to affordability, even for compact urban vehicles like the Fiat 500e and Citroën AMI, and stressed the importance of designing vehicles that meet essential needs without added, unnecessary costs.

The session’s Q&A prompted a rich exchange: Pedro Gomes clarified that the intention behind frugal L-category vehicles is not to increase vehicle numbers, but to offer viable, space-efficient replacements for existing cars—particularly second vehicles. Oliver Lah (Wuppertal Institute) stressed the potential of shared, automated models for economic viability, while David Storer (CLEPA) welcomed the project’s alternative to premium safety via automation and ecosystem design rather than structural enhancements.

Martin Lefrancq (Brussels Region) highlighted survey results showing that while over one-third of respondents would consider replacing a second car with a light electric vehicle (LEV), many saw these vehicles as additions—raising concerns around increased car usage. Dimitri Margaritis (CERTH) noted the challenge of defining 'frugality' and setting an appropriate price range. Tomi Nord responded that users identified an ideal cost between €7,000 and €12,000—reinforcing the need for economically accessible design. 

Panel discussion: Frugal vehicles in the urban mobility ecosystem

Following a short break, a panel discussion featuring Oliver Lah, Pius Sonnberger, and Tomi Nord delved into the broader implications of frugal vehicles in future mobility systems. The panellists agreed that successful solutions must be both innovative and immediately usable. Highlighting examples such as Amsterdam, where similar vehicles are already in operation, the panel stressed the importance of embedding frugal vehicles into multimodal systems that include shared and active transport, thereby supporting more efficient, low-emission urban transport networks.

The session concluded with closing remarks from Pedro Gomes, who reiterated the importance of collaboration across cities, researchers, and industry to drive sustainable innovation in urban transport. He encouraged participants to remain engaged in ongoing conversations and highlighted the GIANTS project as a significant step toward reshaping mobility through smart, practical, and frugal design.

For more information, visit the GIANTS project website here.