Patrick de Wit and Glenn Jonkman can already see it clearly. Just hop on an electric shared bike at a hub and ride to your destination! And if it rains? Simply take a small car that runs entirely on solar energy. If the two entrepreneurs have their way, this will soon become the most normal thing in the world in Zeeland. And far beyond.
To get a good understanding of what De Wit and Jonkman have in mind, it is worth visiting electrical installation company Novectra on Oudelandseweg in Terneuzen. Outside the building stands a mobility hub of the kind the two entrepreneurs would like to see in many more locations. Under solar-panel canopies, electric microcars, bicycles and scooters are lined up and ready to go. The biggest ‘problem’ for now is that it is the only hub in Terneuzen; users cannot yet leave their rented vehicle at another ‘charging island’.
That is set to change soon, if Jonkman and De Wit have their way. At Novectra, Jonkman focuses on innovative electrical engineering. “We have a major problem with grid congestion in the Netherlands, we are damaging nature with fields full of solar panels, and we have an enormous amount of asphalt,” Jonkman explains.
He realised that these three things could also be brought together to create a solution for a whole range of challenges. Why not install canopies with solar panels over that existing asphalt? Place electric shared bikes, scooters, cars and e-choppers underneath, add a battery storage system for those days when the sun is not shining as brightly, and there you have it. Is it really that simple? No, of course not. But in a nutshell, that is what it comes down to. Jonkman: “Take, for example, the car park at the indoor ski centre in Terneuzen. Or the car park at Vliegende Vaart sports centre. These are very interesting locations for putting our plan into practice. The asphalt is already there; all that is needed is a solar canopy.”
Young people leaving the region
Through a mutual contact at social employment organisation Dethon, Jonkman was introduced to Patrick de Wit of SURE Mobility. Dethon has been servicing bicycles for De Wit’s company for some time. After a successful career in the hospitality industry in Mallorca, he is now focusing on sustainable mobility solutions for both the business and private markets. De Wit is based in Harderwijk, but his roots are in Tholen. “Because of my background, I have always felt a connection with Zeeland. The region faces challenges such as the social isolation of older people and young people leaving the area, partly because public transport services are not adequate. That is where we can play a role.”
“It could also be a solution for busier, tourist areas. You park your car on the outskirts of the city and continue by bike.”
Patrick de Wit
With their Multi Mobility Charging Island (MMCI), De Wit and Jonkman are initially focusing on Zeeland. They see their smart energy hubs as a way to give public transport in the province a boost, including in areas where it can no longer be taken for granted that a regular bus service will stop. Jonkman: “Suppose you live in Ossenisse. In the future, you could perhaps take an electric bike from a mini-hub to Kloosterzande, for example, and then transfer to the bus.”
A key condition for success is that the hubs should be no more than a five-minute walk away. Having a hub in every village would be fantastic, De Wit and Jonkman agree. “But it could also be a solution for busier, tourist areas. You park your car on the outskirts of the city and continue by bike,” De Wit adds.
The two entrepreneurs are now taking their idea to the market. Among other things, they are visiting municipal and provincial authorities. Ultimately, subsidies and commercial advertising on displays attached to the vehicles should make it possible to rent a bike or small car at an affordable price. Those who want to try it out already can rent a car for €49 for 2.5 hours. A bicycle costs €30 per day.