Wireless taxi charging in Gothenburg Green City Zone
A test and development project is now underway into wireless charging of electric taxis in service in central Gothenburg. A small fleet of electric taxis will operate for three years using inductive charging. The project is part of the Gothenburg Green City Zone initiative.
Drivers working for taxi operator Cabonline will provide normal taxi services using fully electric Volvo XC40s and wireless charging stations located in specially prepared parking spaces. The first test area will be Lindholmen. The charging technology has been developed by US company Momentum Dynamics and installed on behalf of municipally-owned energy company Göteborg Energi.
The aim is to test and further develop this exciting new charging technology and to gain experience that allows all concerned parties to contribute to the large-scale introduction of zero emission taxis to urban environments.
“Gothenburg Green City Zone has been established for precisely this type of project, real-world practical testing through which we can all learn to accelerate the pace of innovation. Electric taxis can make an enormous difference, both for the climate and to reduce noise in cities,” says Jonas Eriksson, operations manager for Gothenburg Green City Zone at Business Region Göteborg.
Other partners in the Wireless Charging project include Volvo Cars’ Swedish dealership groups Volvo Bil and Volvo Car Retail, and Vattenfall and its InCharge charging network.
The City of Gothenburg has adopted the goals of a fossil-free municipal vehicle fleet by 2023 and reducing CO2 emissions by 90% throughout the city’s transport system by 2030. Electrification is part of the solution. Business Region Göteborg is leading the transition to an electrified transport system. Large-scale penetration of electric vehicles demands a new kind of collaboration between stakeholders.
“The urban environment is greatly affected by the choice of fuels taxi companies make, as over time they cover very long distances in the city centre. The city is also a major purchaser of taxi services and transportation. If the taxi fleet is electrified, we can specify requirements for zero-emission transport services,” says Anne Piegsa, process manager for Electrification at Business Region Göteborg.
About Gothenburg Green City Zone
In the Gothenburg Green City Zone, we test new technologies and collaborate to develop and scale up system solutions aimed at ensuring that all transport in selected parts of Gothenburg will be 100% emission-free by 2030. Gothenburg Green City Zone is an initiative by the City of Gothenburg, implemented through Business Region Göteborg, Volvo Cars and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Learn more about the initiative and other founder members here.
Initially consisting of Lindholmen, the Event District in central Gothenburg and Forsåker in Mölndal, the Gothenburg Green City Zone will create opportunities for businesses, societal stakeholders and researchers to test, develop and scale up their ideas and solutions. This will be a zone for testing rather than prohibition, where we will welcome and stimulate interest in new solutions, create innovation and learn together.
With Gothenburg Green City Zone, Gothenburg is the first region in the world to develop zero-emission, scalable transport solutions at system level.
Business Region Göteborg is also tasked with coordinating the city’s combined efforts to transition to a fossil-free transport system by 2030, with electrification as the guiding light. This work is being performed in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders within the City of Gothenburg, the business community and the Gothenburg region.
Contact persons:
Anne Piegsa, process manager Electrification, Business Region Göteborg
anne.piegsa@businessregion.se
+46 31 367 61 69
Jonas Eriksson, operations manager for Gothenburg Green City Zone at Business Region Göteborg
jonas.eriksson@businessregion.se
+46-31-367 61 23
Christian Borg
Head of Media Relations
+46-31-367 61 64
christian.borg@businessregion.se
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