18.07.2023   Articles . Parking & Mobility

Expert insights: car parks, the facilitators of the liveable city

 
 
There are several clear trends in the European mobility sector. We see a transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) and an increasing pressure on city infrastructure due to continuing urbanisation and the increasing number of cars.
There are several clear trends in the European mobility sector. We see a transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) and an increasing pressure on city infrastructure due to continuing urbanisation and the increasing number of cars.

At the same time, there are questions about where to charge these EVs and how to ensure cities remain accessible for all, given these are the economic and social engines of our society. Since car parks can play an important role in this contradiction, Primevest Capital Partners, Europe’s leading investment manager in car parks, hosted a round table event at Dutch Real estate trade fair Provada.

During the discussion, Fred Wilkes (Q-Park NL), Carlo Barten (APCOA NL) and Rutger Schuur (ParkBee), the parking sector’s thought leadership, shared their vision of the role of car parks in relation to the transition to EVs, their potential use as the city’s battery, the impact on the economy and inclusivity of our cities and reducing traffic movements in the city by digitisation and by adding additional uses. The main theme “Car parks: the facilitators of the liveable city” was introduced by moderators Bas Magielse and Tim Vreeken (Primevest Capital Partners). Car parks can facilitate the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to EVs.

Carlo Barten kicked off the round table session by arguing the car park sector could play an important role in the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to EVs. “Charging an EV takes more time than filling up a car with petrol, even when charged at a fast charger. Converting all petrol stations into EV charging stations will not be sufficient for this reason. Therefore, it would make sense to additionally position EV chargers in public car parks, as EVs tend to be parked there for a longer time.”

Read full article here.