The influence of the exponential demand for EV infrastructure on Utrecht's aspiration to become a 10-minute city

Abstract

All over the world, cities are attempting to emit less carbon to limit the possibly detrimental effects of human-induced climate change. One way to limit carbon emissions is by reducing fossil fuel car use and transitioning to forms of low-carbon mobility. Electric vehicles (EVs) are an exponentially popular low-carbon transport solution, providing similar qualities to fossil-fuel cars. The question is whether it is possible to supply the growing demand for public EV infrastructure and simultaneously have a spatial design with every function within a 10-minute walking or cycling distance of each resident. This paper studies this question in the context of the municipality of Utrecht, the Netherlands. To a large extent, policy decisions that are made now shape how the city will operate in the future. This exploratory research identifies leverage points and lock-ins on both a city scale (policy research) and a neighborhood scale (case study). Furthermore, Stakeholder behavior is analyzed by asking the most essential stakeholders how they expect to respond when the research results become a reality. They are also asked to consider policies to prevent lock-ins and utilize leverage points. The goal is to prevent any unwanted outcomes blocking zero-emission mobility. The study revealed that the current strategy for public EV infrastructure locks in the ability to utilize a significant share of the public space for the 10-minute city. The study suggests six strategy changes to improve the odds of simultaneously supplying the public EV infrastructure demand and implementing a ten-minute city by 2040.