Dutch ambassador Han-Maurits Schaapveld at the inauguration of the Chargy station at his residency on 17 May. Delano

Dutch ambassador Han-Maurits Schaapveld at the inauguration of the Chargy station at his residency on 17 May. Delano

As well as the new charging station, the ambassador has installed solar panels, rainwater tanks, and has started replacing most of the residence’s lights with LED lamps. The electricity network has also been rewired to make it more efficient. “And my driver keeps telling me to turn the heating down,” he joked at the inauguration of the Chargy station on 17 May.

Schaapveld has even thrown down the gauntlet to his diplomatic corps colleagues in Luxembourg by launching a contest to have the most sustainable residency. He says he has asked minister Carole Dieschbourg to head the jury that will decide the winner.

Schaapveld has invited Dutch companies leading the way in electric mobility to a seminar in July to meet with Luxembourg players in the sector. He also said that Amsterdam is targeting 2030 as the year in which it will totally ban internal combustion engine vehicles from the city.

Electric car frontrunner

Indeed, The Netherlands is in the top three countries when it comes to new electric car sales and a frontrunner in the availability of public charging infrastructure. Not only has the commitment to electric transport contributed to the country’s climate objectives and quality of life in cities, it has strengthened the economical position of The Netherlands. It has also led to employment opportunities and stimulated economic growth.

Among the Dutch companies leading the charge in the transition from internal combustion engines to alternative powertrains is LeasePlan, which has set a goal of achieving net zero emissions from its total fleet by 2030. LeasePlan says it is also the only automotive company to have joined, as a founding member, the EV100 initiative (The Climate Group) whose priority is to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and their infrastructure.

Last year LeasePlan introduced its ‘full package’ electric mobility product, now available in 10 countries across Europe, including Luxembourg, which it claims makes the transition to electric vehicles hassle free. The product is underpinned by its partnership with Allego, via which LeasePlan provides its EV customers with access to personal charge points at home, at work and to 110,000 public charging points across Europe.