Brussels Capital Region (BCR) is strongly committed to tackling climate change, improving air quality, and reducing car traffic through ambitious plans and measures such as the Good Move regional mobility plan and the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Shared mobility, particularly carsharing, is key in achieving these goals by offering an alternative to private car ownership. Brussels already has a growing and diverse car-sharing offer and an increasing number of enthusiastic users. However, to fully unlock its potential, we aim to strengthen this offer and make it more inclusive and sustainable. Through targeted initiatives such as the Green Deal and project call on Inclusive Carsharing, the Region supports innovative solutions that make shared electric mobility accessible to a wider range of users, while reinforcing its environmental impact.
Why is Brussels part of the STEER-NWE project?
Despite Brussels’ ambitious plans and objectives, the transition to greener transportation is not straightforward. Progress has been hindered by high price tags for electric vehicles (EVs), questioning of measures by policy makers, including the postponement of the most recent LEZ threshold and the mandatory electrification of new taxis. In this context, the STEER-NWE project offers a valuable opportunity to learn from other European cities and to co-create strategies and instruments to facilitate the electrification of car-sharing fleets in Brussels. The project provides guidance, resources, and best practices to navigate the challenges of integrating EVs into carsharing services. This is especially crucial in Brussels, where aligning with regional climate and air quality objectives necessitates a shift towards electric fleets.
What is the Belgian pilot about?
The Brussels pilot project will focus on identifying the Total Cost of Use for car-sharing operators considering fleet electrification. Understanding the business case is vital to ensuring profitability for the car-sharing operators while transitioning to EVs. Additionally, the pilot will explore the challenges of integrating electric car-sharing into the urban mobility system, combining with mobility hubs. The choice of the pilot sites will be oriented towards underprivileged neighbourhoods, which often feature older vehicle stocks, making them prime targets for LEZ and modal shift initiatives. By conducting targeted trials, we also aim to identify the specific barriers that operators and users face when adopting electric carsharing, from infrastructure gaps to user familiarity with EVs.
What does e-carsharing mean to Brussels?
Electric car-sharing is key in shaping a more sustainable and liveable Brussels. By making shared electric vehicles readily accessible, we actively support the modal shift away from private car ownership towards more sustainable mobility options. This shift directly contributes to the goals of the Good Move sustainable mobility plan and helps the Brussels Capital Region meet its climate and air quality targets.
Beyond environmental benefits, e-carsharing also serves as a powerful ambassador for electric mobility, since it is also a great way to get people familiar with electric driving. Without buying a car, anyone can try it out, making the switch to electric mobility feel easier and more accessible.
Ultimately, e-carsharing is more than just a transport service; it’s a driver of cultural and behavioural change. It encourages residents to rethink their mobility habits and embrace a more collective, climate-conscious approach to urban living. Through e-carsharing, Brussels is taking a bold step towards a greener, healthier, and more connected future.