Electric Mobility: Point of Departure.

This report presents the initial position of an investigation conducted by organisations co-operating on "e-harbours", looking at the potential of land- and water-based electric transport for the harbour regions of northwest Europe. Current electric vehicles are limited in their functionality, having short driving ranges and various other limitations that are primarily caused by limitations of their batteries. The investigation therefore sets out its attempt to identify batteries that perform better and more efficiently. Areas for investment are identified, such as standardisation of techniques and development of recharging infrastructure. A number of factors are also identified that contribute to decisions on which batteries are more effective, such as their charging speed and how easy they are to replace. Antoher major contributing factor is the batteries' environmental impact, with the investigation fundamentally targeting renewable energy sources, since relying on carbon-based energy to provide the electricity for the batteries detracts from their environmental friendliness. The report identifies harbour zones as essentially closed ecosystems, providing an ideal environment for research and experimentation in the field of electric transport. The e-harbours project aims to progress the electric mobility agenda in European harbours by means of showcases in Zaanstad, Amsterdam, Malmö and the Shetland Islands