Energy Transition in Europe | www.energy-cities.eu

In numerous studies, electric automobiles have been found to be beneficial for the environment, as they release fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants into the air. Electric vehicles have the potential to minimise transportation-related pollution while also mitigating global warming. 

Europe has managed to position itself as one of the global leaders against climate change. Over the last few years, the European Union has taken significant measures toward climate mitigation. However, if the world wants to avoid the worst effects of climate change, countries only have a limited amount of time to act. That is why it is crucial for national, regional, and local authorities to stay up-to-date when it comes to looking for new solutions that can help in the fight against climate change.

The German city of Münster has once again confirmed its dedication to sustainable transit and climate action. Mayor of Münster Markus Lewe attended the opening ceremony of the e-bus line 8 which now consists almost entirely of electric buses. Mayor Lewe stated on social media: “Electric buses are a win-win for everyone involved, so every …

The Trollino 24 MetroStyle, a new public transport vehicle with two bellows will be tested on Tallinn trolleybus lines. It can run as a trolley, but can also disconnect from the wires and run on battery power, the same way as an electric bus. It can capacitate approximately two hundred passengers, which is four times …

The public transport sector has been hit hard by the covid-19 crisis. Since climate change is not taking a break, electrification must be at the centre of a green recovery. Smart depots will play a crucial role in transforming the face of urban transport, says Monique Mertins at Siemens Smart Infrastructure

Utrecht residents will be able to use an electric shared cargo bike from next spring. The municipality is starting a partnership with the Cargoroo company for a two-year trial with 100 e-cargo bikes. From the spring, Cargoroo will place the e-shared cargo bikes throughout the city, depending on the enthusiasm in the various neighborhoods. The trial is linked …

With a total of 133 electric vehicles, the transit system in the Romanian city will be able to be 100% electric

Un quart de la flotte urbaine. Le 25 juin 2020, les six plus grandes villes du Danemark se sont engagées à n’acheter que des bus urbains à batterie électrique et à hydrogène à partir de 2021. Cette décision a été entérinée par un accord de coopération climatique entre les villes de Copenhague, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, Vejle et Frederiksberg avec le ministère danois des Transports. Ces six villes détiennent environ un quart du parc urbain du pays, soit 800 bus sur un total de 3.330. «Il est donc tout à fait naturel qu’elles soient le moteur de la transformation des transports publics», commente le ministre danois des Transports, Benny Engelbrecht. Ce dernier espère que cette initiative sera suivie par d’autres localités dans le pays.

Some 300 million euros of additional funding for the purchase of new electric buses in Germany have been cleared by the European Commission, bringing the total to 650 million euros.
The state aid scheme will apply until the end of next year and will allow Germany to replace large swathes of the country’s diesel bus fleet with more modern and environmentally-friendly vehicles.
The financing will be used for the purchase not only of electric and hybrid vehicles, however, but also for the creation of charging infrastructure throughout the country.

Les réductions des émissions de gaz à effet de serre et des particules résultant du remplacement de tous les moteurs thermiques par des alternatives sobres en carbone ne seront pas assez rapides pour faire la différence dans les quelques années qui nous restent.
Pour s’attaquer aux crises du climat et de la pollution atmosphérique, il faut réduire au plus vite tous les transports motorisés, voitures particulières en tête.
Or, en se concentrant uniquement sur les véhicules électriques, on ralentit la course vers une baisse drastique des émissions.

Positive “tipping points” in the uptake of electric vehicles and the decarbonisation of electricity generation could spark a global transition to a climate neutral economy, scientists say, providing fresh hope in the fight against global warming.

Charging infrastructure is one of the key ingredients necessary to further increase the market uptake of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Most public charging infrastructure in Europe is not profitable, and 42% of European households reside in dwellings with no possibility to install a private charger, which are key limitations to the build-up of charging infrastructure. This work presents and analyzes an alternative business model for ‘community-owned charging points’ that combines many of the convenience advantages of private charging with the cost savings of a joint purchase. Survey data from 3,131 households in Austria is used to identify barriers to PEV charging and charging infrastructure usage, and investigate consumers’ preferences with respect to community-owned charging points. Four key target groups of customers for such a business model are identified based on their socio-economic characteristics, purchase history, and expressed level of environmental concerns, including current PEV owners, high income households, photovoltaic (PV) owners, and environmentalists. Identified distinct preferences for the configuration of a collective charging station amongst these groups include lower importance attached to flexibility to charge the vehicles at any time by current PEV owners, higher sensitivity to cost per charge of PV owners, and strong preferences for comfort and flexibility demonstrated by high income households.

Two bus storages with solar panels installed on their roof structure were handed over in the Kelenföld Division of the Budapest Transport Privately Held Corporation (BKV) last Friday. While far from being a sensation, the event proved yet another step in the implementation of BKV's climate and energy strategy towards achieving a greener, more liveable Budapest.
Green island with a twofold purpose
The location of the project is not only practical, but also symbolic, as Kelenföld is home to BKV’s zero-emission, purely electric buses. With the latest energy-conscious investment of Budapest’s main public transport operator, the company’s bus garage in Kelenföld has become a “green island” that not only provides electric buses to the travelling public, but also generates some of their electricity needs from renewable energy sources by replacing fossil fuels.

Distinctive new number plates could help drivers access cheaper parking and emissions charge exemptions