Located at the border with Belgium and France, Differdange is a diverse city with a population of 31,000 people (3rd biggest in the country) in an area of 22,18km². The city is part of Luxembourg’s urban south industrial ring, composed by urban and peri-urban areas. A hub for industry and innovation, it is at the centre of the climate transition in the country and has become the only municipality in the country part of the 100 EU Mission Cities. 

Differdange has been a pioneer in sustainable mobility, being the first city in Luxembourg to introduce municipal electric buses, the Diffbus. Yet, in order to reach the goal of reducing journeys made by privately owned cars by 20% by 2030, the city must address several issues such as: the lack of pedestrian-friendly environments; the expansion of cycling infrastructure; and a strong car culture fuelled by a high car dependency. In addition, the city is currently increasing its e-vehicle infrastructure while developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) based on studies and pilot projects on smart mobility.

Why is Differdange part of the STEER-NWE project?

They joined STEER-NWE because the current system in place is not attractive enough to encourage widespread use of e-carsharing solutions. There is a need for new models that can inspire people to shift away from privately owned car dependency. Additionally, the high cost of owning a private car makes alternatives more appealing. They saw value in joining STEER-NWE for the shared expertise (especially since such expertise is limited in Luxembourg), the best practices amongst pilots and partners, opportunities for cooperation, access to technology from both the private sector and university partners and its alignment with their Mission Cities objectives. 

What is the Luxembourgish pilot about?

E-carsharing solutions are scarce in Luxembourg, and STEER-NWE presents a valuable opportunity to assess different ways to implement them in their city. The insights gained, especially through discussions and comparisons with experiences from other European cities, will help them better understand real-world deployment. This analysis will be carried out in collaboration with the lead project partner, LIST. 

The results will contribute to understanding the feasibility of a scalable concept that could eventually be integrated into the Differdange’s SUMP and expanded to the southern region of the country, for example through collaboration with the Prosud municipalities (11 municipalities that work together to develop common projects with a focus on sustainable development and the promotion of the identity of the Southern region of Luxembourg).

What does e-carsharing mean to Differdange?

E-carsharing represents a key opportunity to reduce dependency on privately owned cars and to support intermodality. As more people commute between Differdange, the capital, and neighbouring cities, they need flexible and sustainable mobility options. E-carsharing offers a practical alternative to private car ownership, especially as Luxembourg faces rising traffic congestion and limited space. 

Although no national law has yet been adopted, a draft law introduced in April 2023 aims to provide a legal basis for municipalities to reserve on-street parking for shared vehicles. This shows that the framework is evolving, even if still cautious, favouring fixed stations over free-floating models. 

By engaging in e-carsharing, they seek to engage with existing solutions, and test new concepts locally, adapting them to real urban needs. Collaborating with other municipalities and national stakeholders, Differdange hopes to shape a future model that can scale across the southern region and contribute meaningfully to Luxembourg’s mobility strategy.