European Mobility Week 2021 – ASOM: Alliance for Solar Mobility

European Mobility
Week 2021

🗓 October 04, 2021 – 📖 8 min

Last week, from the 16th to the 22nd of September the annual European Mobility Week took place. With more than 3000 participating cities within Europe, the EU Mobility Week can be considered the largest EU awareness-raising campaign for sustainable urban mobility. During this week, every European city is stimulated to promote and test innovative technologies, new transport modes and infrastructure for a sustainable mobility future. Altogether, a week that has a perfect fit with the activities of ASOM, as we strive to develop photovoltaic-based solutions for efficient, convenient and eco-friendly transportation.

This year, the Mobility Week’s theme was ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility’. The choice for this theme is made as a tribute to the difficult times during the Corona pandemic. In addition, it enables reflecting on the corona crisis and thereby recognizing opportunities for future positive change. This main theme is divided into 4 different topics which are Mental Health, Physical Health, Safety Measures and COVID-19 Response.

Mental and Physical Health

During the pandemic, mental and physical health became important societal issues, because people were isolated from each other and had more free time which resulted in more outdoor activities. Therefore, this year EU’s Mobility Week focuses on preventing mental and physical health issues by stimulating physical activity and reducing air and noise pollution in the city.

Safety Measures

In addition, this year focuses on safety measures for new forms of (shared) micro-mobility such as the e-step. To create safe urban roads for this new type of mobility, new regulations have to be created. Raising awareness for vulnerable people on urban roads is also part of this topic. The EU Parliament’s Transport Committee has identified several difficulties for disabled people, such as access barriers and lack of correct way of communication (braille or audio).

COVID-19 response

Finally, COVID-19 response consists of reacting to societal changes due to the Corona crisis. For example, restoring confidence in public transport because the lockdown led to a decline in the use of public transport. In addition there was a shift to more active mobility such as cycling and walking. Therefore, this EU’s Mobility Week wants to stimulate active mobility as a positive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASOM and the EU Mobility Week

As an alliance for solar mobility, it was important for us to be part of the Mobility Week. Apart from contributing to a sustainable mobility future, ASOM also contributes to several topics as part of this year’s mobility week. Namely, Lightyear, Sono Motors and Infinite Mobility contribute their share by reducing noise and air pollution. In addition, the SunRider reduces noise and air pollution and even stimulates active mobility.

The EU Mobility Week was therefore a great chance for ASOM to come together and discuss what the future is going to look like. And at the same time raise awareness and define goals that are needed to foster the development of solar mobility.

ASOM Event

This monday, we met each other in the Dutch House of Provinces in Brussels for a workshop. The workshop consisted of two presentations about research into shingled PV modules and the use of solar panels on vehicles respectively by Martin Heinrich from the Fraunhofer Institute and Bonna Newman from TNO. Hereafter, there was a discussion about how we as ASOM could contribute to the development of solar mobility and what barriers we face as solar mobility companies.

After that, we were invited to the residency of the Dutch ambassador Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan in Brussels. At the residency, Lightyear, SunRider, Sono Motors, IM Efficiency, SHOW (Solar team Eindhoven) and Agoria Solar team were able to showcase their solar powered vehicles for more than 60 people with different backgrounds. In addition, other partners such as Exypnos and Fraunhofer institute were present during this event. This led to interesting conversations and valuable new connections which will contribute to the future of ASOM!

Later on, a few speakers got the chance to share their vision for the future of solar mobility. The speakers were the ambassador himself Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan, Bonna Newman (Chairwoman ASOM), Khattabi Zakia (Belgian minister for Climate ), Brussels’ State Secretary Pascal Smet and Daniel Mes (Cabinet member Frans Timmermans). Hereby, the future potential for solar mobility was recognized. In addition, the cooperation between neighbour countries was emphasized as an important driver for the development of solar mobility.

Eventually, when the sun went down, the solar mobility event came to an end. It was a great event for creating new connections and exchanging opinions and ideas for the future of solar mobility. On to the next one!