Conclusions from the EU Project “North Sea Region Electric Mobility Network”

With its network of 11 partners, covering the entire North Sea Region (N, SWE, DK, GER, NL, BE, UK), the international consortium and contributed to a better awareness of electric mobility in the region through collaboration with local authorities, government offices, universities, non-governmental organizations and further stakeholders.

Electric mobility remains in its early years. In each of the seven countries around the North Sea Region, stakeholders have taken up different roles and have adopted different strategies regarding the implementation of electric mobility. These differences relate to national and regional ambitions and subsequent policy measures, as well as to the structure of the energy sector and prevalent electricity production. In the scope of the project, the following conclusions may be drawn:

– The electrification of the transport sector – passenger as well as freight – is an ongoing, dynamic process where certain variables and contexts change rapidly. This is true for both the development and deployment of electric vehivles (EVs) and the charging infrastructure as well as for certain policy developments. Consequently, long-term planning is a challenging task.

– The realization of a public infrastructure is a prerequisite for the adoption of EVs. However, the implementation of electric mobility, most notably of the charging infrastructure, has to take into account relations between various scale levels (micro to macro level), the characteristics of the built environment, existing travel patterns, and the interests of the various stakeholders involved. Regarding the physical charging infrastructure, interoperability issues remain. A stimulating infrastructure build-out in strategic locations could increase the possibilities for transnational EV travel.

– With regard to policies concerning the transition to electric mobility, attention should be paid to the dynamics between the different governance levels. In terms of smart grids, there is an ongoing need to combine the actions of the connected actors, energy producers and consumers, as well as the distributors in order to benefit from the EVs, and to make the overall system more efficient, sustainable, reliable, and safe. New technology may positively influence the quality and costs of e-mobility, but efforts should also focus on transforming user behavior.

– Concerning charging, E-Mobility NSR research findings suggest that fast charging may not be essential for the introduction of EVs, normal charging seems sufficient. There seem to be other factors more important for scaling-up e-mobility.

– A lack of awareness and information gaps remain barriers to a large scale implementation of EVs. EV information centers have the potential to be central points of awareness generation, information dissemination and learning about sustainable travel.

– For urban freight transport, E-Mobility NSR findings suggest that e-freight vehicles are a feasible solution, especially for last mile deliveries, where the route is somehow fixed and structured around deliveries in urban areas. In this respect, EVs include a set of functionalities that are advantageous for companies which perform freight deliveries: low emissions, silent driving, good acceleration, maneuverability and easiness to use.

For an overview over the project achievements, conference documentations and detailed project results access the project website at www.e-mobility-nsr.eu

Contact: Franziska Wolf [ehemals: Mannke / formerly: Mannke] (B.A. int, BBA, MIBA)
Research and Transfer Centre „Applications of Life Sciences“
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences / Faculty of Life Sciences
Ulmenliet 20 (Room 0.37), 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Tel.: +49-40-42875-6324; Fax: +49-40-42875-6079
E-Mail: franziska.wolf@haw-hamburg.de
Web: http://www.haw-hamburg.de/ftz-als.html

Weitere Informationen:

http://www-haw-hamburg.de
http://www.e-mobility-nsr.eu