DISRUPTIVE MOBILITY FOR SMART CITIES: IT’S TIME TO CHANGE!

The transformative potential of disruptive mobility technologies is rapidly reshaping the landscape of urban transportation (Kane & Whitehead, 2017). In the context of smart cities, integrating electric vehicles (EVs), hydrogen fuel cells, new energy vehicles (NEVs), and multimodal transportation solutions signifies a pivotal shift towards sustainability and efficiency (Kim et al., 2015). These technologies promise not only to enhance urban mobility but also to address critical environmental and economic challenges faced by contemporary urban centers (Alonso Raposo et al., 2022; Schlüter et al., 2021; Secinaro et al., 2021). Disruptive mobility technologies are also an integral part of Smart cities: defined by their reliance on cutting-edge technologies to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants, these places increasingly focusing on sustainable mobility solutions. The impetus for this shift stems from many factors, including growing environmental concerns, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences (Kane & Whitehead, 2017; Secinaro et al., 2022). Adopting these innovative mobility solutions is essential for reducing carbon emissions, alleviating traffic congestion, and promoting cleaner air and better health outcomes in urban environments (Li et al., 2024; Ma et al., 2018). Despite the clear benefits, adopting disruptive mobility technologies is fraught with challenges. High initial costs, inadequate infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles are significant barriers to address. Public acceptance and awareness also play a crucial role in successfully deploying these technologies ( Abdelkader et al., 2021). This special issue aims to enhance our understanding of sustainable transitions in urban mobility, offering valuable insights and practical solutions for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. This collection of studies also provides a roadmap for achieving sustainable urban transportation systems. The articles underscore the necessity of collaborative efforts and innovative thinking in overcoming the obstacles to widespread adoption, ultimately paving the way for smarter, greener cities. Building on a rich set of contributions, this editorial delves into the drivers, practices, and barriers associated with adopting disruptive mobility technologies in smart cities. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the 24 articles featured in this joint special issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production and Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain.