It was a nice view to see all those cargo bikes and light electric vehicles together in the garage down the Passengers Terminal in Amsterdam.
Various providers of emission-free transport vehicles came to connect with possible users for a 'Meet & Match': entrepreneurs in construction, installation technology and other facility and technical service providers.
A prelude to a pilot later this year. Project leader Frank Ebbink: “There is still room in the pilot for entrepreneurs who, in view of the arrival of the emission-free zone, want to examine alternative transport options.”
It gives an idea of what the future of city logistics could look like. Not a city full of petrol or diesel vans, but one in which electric vehicles and cargo bikes dominate. Participants in the 'Meet & Match' are informed about what positive effects an electric vehicle can have for the company. “I think it is a solution for my mechanics who have difficulty getting their driver's license,” says an entrepreneur. “Young boys, great mechanics. This might be something for them.”
Different types
After being introduced to the vehicles, buyers and suppliers came together to speak about the opportunities. Ebbink, project leader of the pilot, asks the technical and facility entrepreneurs to voice their preferences. “The type of vehicle depends on the job,” says a construction entrepreneur but also appearance, “My mechanics also want to sit on a cool vehicle.” Next to that, a vehicle that resembles a bus the most is also in favor, “I would like to replace all my buses with electric ones ideally, but I cannot afford that. That is why I would choose a vehicle that can replace my current bus best.”
“Is the demand coming from within the market or is it a wish of the municipality?” one entrepreneur asks. Ebbink: “A bit of both. In Amsterdam we have serious problems in the amount of vehicles, the amount of transport movements, limited parking spaces and parking costs. Also we want to set new emission standards with zero emission zones. We want entrepreneurs to continue working in Amsterdam, therefore we are investigating new transport options”. 12.000 buses enter the city center every day. 1.800 of these are technical service providers (including plumbers, installers, mechanics). Enough potential, you might say.
Various subscriptions
The offering of a hub with freight bikes and light electric vehicles includes a digital system. A specialist explains three different ways of using a hub: a fixed subscription for the frequent user and a flexible subscription for the regular user. The occasional user makes separate bookings. With an app, an user can access the hub and use a cargo bike or a light electric vehicle.
Susanne Balm from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences presented the public with a calculation model in which variables such as travel time, parking search time and costs for the hub/cargo bike could be entered. The effect could be there is room for one more customer on the tour through the city.
The pilot should start the last quarter of 2024. We hereby invite companies in technical services to participate in the pilot.
Please contact us via hubs@amsterdam.nl
Source: City of Amsterdam