Synopsis
Rotterdam, with about 600,000 inhabitants, has the largest port in the world and is the central main-port for goods distribution in Europe. Rotterdam's transport policy aims at facilitating these economically very important distribution activities whilst reducing the environmental impact of traffic. To achieve this objective, goods transport is being shifted towards environmentally friendly transport by rail and water. However, trains and ships mainly offer an alternative for long-distance transport, most regional transport and urban distribution activities are and will be based on road transport. The best way of solving the inner-city environmental transport problems is by introducing clean, quiet and energy efficient vehicles, especially for specific niche-applications, which may be considered as inevitable road transport. In Rotterdam, the urban distribution activities do not suffer from congestion problems in the inner city. Partially this is due to the fact that the inner city has been rebuilt in a spacious pattern after the demolition in the 2nd World War. Also the fact that the 3 main transport companies for urban distribution were already performing on a UDC-based approach for years plays an important role. These companies, transporting at least 70% of all parcels & packages, are operating from their own UDC situated at the edge of the city. They use large trucks for long-distance transport to and from the UDC and distribute goods in and out of the city by means of vans and small trucks. In this efficiently organised urban distribution system a further reduction in emissions of noise and air pollution can only be reached by introducing clean and silent vehicles. Electric vehicles offer a very clean alternative to the diesel engine vehicles and are very suitable for the short trips and many stops, characteristic for urban distribution vehicles. It could also be expected that such vehicles operate more energy-efficient. The Rotterdam approach has been adapted to the specific needs of the 3 mentioned transport companies, meaning that large electric vans (pay-load 1,000-1,500 kg, loading volume 12-16 m3) were needed which could operate as a full replacement for the used ICE-vans, and so proving themselves in the existing logistic systems of these companies.
Target groups: employers / employees - municipal staff - shopkeepers
Fields: goods delivery - responsible car use / mobility plans
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