Amsterdam: the Electric City

Amsterdam (NL) has developed into a true Living Lab for research institutes, innovation businesses and start-ups in the field of electric transport. The city council facilitates its ‘electric’ pioneers as much as they can under the slogan of ‘reward those who contribute’. By granting subsidies and privileges, allowing room for experiments and providing an impressive charging infrastructure, Amsterdam wants to show that electric transport can be the norm again, rather than the exception.

E-visionary award 

No city in the world is as far ahead in the transition to electric transport as Amsterdam. This was once more confirmed in 2016 at the World Electric Vehicle Symposium in Montreal, where Amsterdam city council received the E-visionary award for the second time in succession. Motivating the decision to award the prize to Amsterdam, the jury of the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) said: “Amsterdam has a long and solid track record of promoting the use of electric vehicles in the city, putting an effective charging infrastructure in place and promoting, in general, the transition to electro mobility. The targets and the ambitious timing set for zero-emission taxis, buses, small delivery vehicles, light vehicles, and even boats are world leading and an example to all cities.”

Living lab

With an exceptionally innovative climate pervading the city – Amsterdam was also voted Europe’s innovation capital this year – Amsterdam has developed into a true Living Lab for research institutes, innovation businesses and start-ups in the field of electric transport. Researchers and adventurous entrepreneurs are developing creative, technological solutions for fast charging, smart parking, data use and temporary battery storage for solar energy. For cars, but also for scooters, delivery vans and trucks.

The city council facilitates its ‘electric’ pioneers as much as they can under the slogan of ‘reward those who contribute’, granting subsidies and privileges, allowing room for experiments and providing an impressive charging infrastructure. In this way, Amsterdam wants to show that electric transport can be the norm again, rather than the exception.

Read all about it in Amsterdam Plan.