Sometimes Amsterdam is called the biggest marina in the world. It is up to us to make it also the neatest marina in the world.
The Elektrisch Varen Foundation wants to enable the transition from combustion engine to pure electric propulsion for boats. Therefor it aims developing and supplying a new infrastructure of battery charge- and swap-stations. A plan has been set up for the city of Amsterdam, but Elektrisch Varen Foundation envisions a gradually growing infrastructure for the whole Netherlands. Such a system is convenient especially for private boat owners who are not tied to a berth with power socket in a marina. In Amsterdam this applies to the many boat owners whose boats are moored in the canals, with a certificate from Waternet. But boats with a steady berth in a marina or hired and shared boats can benefit from this network as well.
In Amsterdam two-stroke engines for boats have been banned in 2017, and also the maximum speed in the canals has been reduced to 6 km/h (3.4 knots, 3.73mph) . The municipality’s goal is to ban four-stroke engines in the future as well. The government made tough demands on emission controls and environmental protection.
Elektrisch Varen Foundation chaperones this transition to put it on the right track. This is only possible with the support of the boating community and public authorities. So Elektrisch Varen Foundation is an organization for boat owners and the link in the consultation with the municipality, Waternet (water office of Amsterdam) and the Waterschappen (offices for the dikes). Success for Elektrisch Varen Foundation’s initiative is possible if these parties co-operate and choose for a viable and social plan for the future ahead. Elektrisch Varen Foundation has a vision on this. She identifies the transition to emission free propulsion not as a deluxe sport, but as a necessity in the interest of everyone. The key to wide success of this approach lies in the set-up of a completely new, user-friendly electrical infrastructure on the water. Elektrisch Varen Foundation assumes that 100% electrification of the 10’000 pleasure boats in Amsterdam is possible within 10 years, with a fairly small investment. The full concept is handed out to the municipality and Waternet. For the development we engaged a cooperation with the Hogeschool van Amsterdam and consultations took place with the Technical University of Delft.
These organizations are sympathetic towards Elektrisch Varen Foundation’s plan. It is up to Elektrisch Varen Foundation to accelerate in the pursuit of it. Follow on this website how this comes about. Via this link you can write us and inscribe for our newsletter.