Many entrepreneurs are still opting for a clean diesel one last time.

A variety of electric commercial vehicles and cargo bikes would give city centers a complete makeover. However, with the introduction of zero-emission zones rapidly approaching, there has not yet been a boom in electric transport.

With a sharp turn, the bright blue Spijkstaal vehicle navigates past roadworks and glides into Voorstraat in Spijkenisse. Until noon, vehicles are still permitted to enter the village center to deliver goods and supplies. Further down the shopping street, the electric delivery vehicle encounters a large diesel bus belonging to a parcel delivery service. With careful maneuvering, the two vehicles just manage to pass each other.

'This is precisely the issue. City centers are becoming congested with delivery vans, and space is limited. These small, compact vehicles are designed for such environments,' says Geoffrey Jacobs, Deputy Director of Spijkstaal. The company – originally from Spijkenisse, but now located a few kilometers away in Hoogvliet – has been manufacturing electric vehicles for eighty years, including the former mobile SRV supermarket.

Since last summer, the company has been selling a so-called light electric vehicle for freight transport, the Iona xs, which is fast enough to drive on the Amsterdam or Rotterdam ring roads, for example, but can also cover the last mile, the final stretch to the shop or customer in areas where soon only vehicles that emit no harmful substances will be permitted. They are intended for urban entrepreneurs, such as florists and bakers, who currently still use delivery vans.

Growth Market
Nevertheless, sales are not yet meeting expectations. Approximately sixty are currently in operation. In a warehouse in Rotterdam's Waalhaven, 55 electric vehicles are ready for immediate delivery. 'We had anticipated 10% growth, but we are not achieving that yet,' says Jacobs.

He is not concerned about this. Spijkstaal specializes in electric vehicles and tow tractors used at airports, auctions, and large factories. Urban logistics represents a growth market for the company, and patience is required. 'I expect things to accelerate significantly from the second quarter of 2025. By then, zero-emission zones will be in effect in various municipalities, and government uncertainty will hopefully have dissipated.' He anticipates an order from a supermarket chain and has high expectations for a collaboration with leasing company Ayvens, which has included the Spijkstaal-LEV in its offerings.

Persistent Uncertainty
The hype surrounding mini-vehicles, electric cargo bikes, and other zero-emission transport methods appears to have subsided. In the Netherlands, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding if and how light electric vehicles (LEVs) may be used. While small delivery vehicles are permitted on the road, a set of regulations is being developed for other small electric vehicles. These regulations have been postponed, and the persistent uncertainty is currently hindering urban distribution efforts, which would benefit from fewer large, polluting vehicles.

The wrangling surrounding the introduction of zero-emission zones is also unhelpful. From 2025, fourteen municipalities will implement such a zone, with nineteen other municipalities following later. However, PVV State Secretary Chris Jansen for Public Transport and Environment desires a longer transition period and that no fines be issued next year, much to the anger of the municipalities.

Government uncertainty is certainly a hindering factor, states Roy Driessen, Segment Director for Commercial Vehicles at leasing company Ayvens. 'Every time the State Secretary issues another statement, and municipalities respond to it, our phones ring off the hook. This is not only from small entrepreneurs but also from large corporations.' According to Driessen, pioneers who have already invested in an electric fleet feel disadvantaged now that changes are being made just before the introduction of the zero-emission zones.

This year, only about 10% of the 68,000 newly registered commercial vehicles in the Netherlands are electric. Driessen observes that 'many entrepreneurs are opting for one last round of clean diesel vehicles, which allows them to enter zero-emission zones for a few more years.' Furthermore, the BPM (private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax) exemption for commercial vans for entrepreneurs will expire next year. He anticipates that the transition to electric and compact vehicles will gain momentum in the coming years.

More Congested and Car-Restricted
The Hague-based transport company Hubbel, which operates over twenty electric delivery vans, cargo vans, and trucks, has had to adapt. It grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic with orders from Rituals, MediaMarkt, and SME companies. 'We had expected demand to decrease somewhat after the pandemic, but we were back to square one,' says co-founder Robert Medenblik. 'Any remaining emission-free deliveries were handled by bicycle couriers.'

The company no longer emphasizes emission-free delivery but instead focuses on businesses that observe cities becoming more congested and car-restricted. It now transports goods into the city for facility management companies, IT firms, and other clients. 'That has been our salvation.'

For trucks, various light electric vehicles are not an alternative, states Walther Ploos van Amstel, lecturer in urban logistics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. 'In Amsterdam, you would then need 250,000 cargo bikes. Every day.' He believes that increasingly congested cities are better served by larger electric delivery vans. 'It is better to operate one large vehicle than several small ones. Those small electric vehicles were a hype five years ago.'

‘Politics is the Spoiler’
The use of cargo bikes for transport is also not without its challenges. 'I often hear stories about issues with these bikes, which frequently break down and do not achieve their expected lifespan,' says Edwin Renzen of Mobilitum, an electric vehicle manufacturer. 'Those bikes broke down too often in the beginning,' confirms Jos Sluijsmans of Fietsdiensten.nl and organizer of the International Cargo Bike Festival. 'That was because they were designed for families and not for freight transport. They have now been adapted.'

Sluijsmans notes that the adoption of emission-free transport is not progressing as quickly as anticipated. 'On the contrary, there has been a surge in the sale of diesel vans that will still be permitted everywhere in the coming years.' The current government is not cooperating. Politics is the major spoiler. Regulations concerning light electric vehicles were initially slated for introduction in 2023, but this has been delayed. Due to this uncertainty, entrepreneurs are saying: 'I'll wait and see.' Over the years, he has observed a steady growth in electric vehicles and cargo bikes.

According to RAI Vereniging, which expects small electric vehicles to find a place alongside delivery vans, it is crucial that the government quickly provides clarity regarding the approval and road use of these vehicles. 'This concerns the technical requirements applicable to these new vehicle types, as well as traffic regulations,' says a spokesperson. 'Do we want these vehicles on the roadway or on the bicycle path?'

Pragmatic Solutions
Companies are not waiting for this. Five years ago, installation company Vandorp established a branch in Rotterdam dedicated to urban transport, enabling technicians to reach customers by bicycle, public transport, or electric vehicle. 'Our technicians frequently need to be in the city for maintenance and repairs,' says Marketing Director Paul van Dorp. 'They often face long traffic jams, and once in the city, finding a parking space is challenging. Technicians are scarce, so a solution was sought.'

The company started with bicycles from a pizza delivery service, which are still in use. Additionally, four electric three-wheelers from Carver and vehicles from Stint were acquired, both of which subsequently went bankrupt. Furthermore, Urban Arrow cargo bikes were purchased. 'All of this was to find a solution to the problem of entering the congested city,' says Van Dorp. 'Only later did we join the zero-emission movement. That was relatively easy at the time.'