One of the biggest challenges facing the electrification of transport is the charging infrastructure. Even if more and more drivers opt for an electric model, it will fail in everyday life due to the lack of sockets on the road. One solution is sockets integrated into street lamps. In Berlin, they already wanted to test this by equipping some street lamps with plugs. In London and Arnhem, they are already further along.
In the Netherlands, there are 15 low emission zones in 12 cities. The three largest cities Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam even have two zones. Most zones only prohibit the entry of diesel trucks with Euronorm 3 and below. But there are exceptions and special rules.
There are to be 30 million e-cars on the roads in the EU by 2030. The countries and the EU itself are therefore boosting the market with premiums and tax benefits for e-car drivers. Here is an overview.
Due to the flood disasters in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, the question arises whether e-cars are not roadworthy in floods compared to combustion cars, because the electrics could short-circuit in the water and sparks could fly. According to experts, this is nonsense. Electric cars even have an advantage over combustion cars.
In the fight against ultra-fine dust, Amsterdam Airport wants to use fog to trap the particles and make them sink to the ground. The small particles produced by the ground movement of aircraft are particularly harmful to health because they can penetrate far into the lungs. But stronger fuel regulation would also help.
As of today, Rouen has a permanently valid low emission zone. It prohibits trucks and vans with stickers 4 and 5 as well as those without a sticker. In The Hague, too, the rules are being tightened. Cars and vans are now also affected. The area of the zone will also be almost doubled.
Air and sea traffic in Europe has an enormous volume, both in the tourism and logistics sectors. As a result, there are more and more environmental zones and measures to improve air quality at the (air) ports of Europe. But mostly only the cars are affected.
In Baden-Württemberg, a truck toll is soon to be introduced for rural and municipal roads in order to be able to finance road maintenance. In the Netherlands, the toll has just been postponed again. Its profits should largely be invested in the sustainability of freight transport.
The Netherlands is tightening up the rules on environmental zones enormously from 2025. No vans or trucks with combustion engines will be allowed in at least 14 environmental zones. Only purely electric vehicles will be allowed.
In the fight against air pollution and congestion, many low emission zones are being extended and more and more cars are now prohibited from entering them.
