#WeDrive2Zero: Interview with Margriet van Schijndel, Pillar 3 Co-Leader

Please briefly introduce yourself

I am Margriet van Schijndel, Program Manager Responsible Mobility at Eindhoven University of Technology, based at EAISI, our AI institute.
I lead our university-wide research programme on mobility, aiming for “research with impact”, conducted in close collaboration with our partners from industry, governments and other research institutes. Our research programme “Responsible Mobility” stretches from automated driving, safety, EV drivetrains, BMS, eco-driving, logistics, urban development to inclusivity, public transport and active modes of transport.

Why did you apply as 2Zero co-leader?

I applied for pillar co-leadership, particularly for Pillar 3, as I do think it is essential to embed new technologies better in their application domain. New concepts, tools and services can facilitate the broad uptake of new and emerging technologies. I am eager to actively contribute to this, and the co-leadership really helps in doing that.

Can you provide a brief overview of the technology areas “Cities mission”; “Sub-urban / urban mobility” and “Next generation electric vehicles”?

These areas take a clear angle on the operational aspects of implementing zero tailpipe emission vehicles. User-centricity is key here, whether the user is an end-user, or is enabling or providing mobility for people or for goods, including public transport and shared services.
The areas strive to find technological and societal enablers for the accelerated transition to zero tailpipe road transport. Solving real challenges experienced by cities and their regions is essential for scaling-up the solutions developed in 2Zero projects.

How do these technology areas reflect the strategic vision and priorities of 2Zero?

The areas focus on challenges experienced in cities, by cities, their partners and the users. We need to solve these challenges with transferability of solutions in mind – to validate and demonstrate them. At the same time, they can tell us what gaps still exist or may emerge. Furthermore, the areas fully integrate user-centricity in their actions.
This directly contributes to several specific objectives of the Partnership:

1. Develop zero tailpipe emission, affordable user-centric solutions (technologies and services) for road-based mobility all across Europe and accelerate their acceptance to improve air quality in urban areas and beyond: Projects such as MOBILITIES FOR EU, ZEV-UP and Shift2Zero exemplify this goal by introducing innovative vehicle technologies and user-oriented services designed for widespread deployment.
2. Develop affordable, user-friendly charging infrastructure concepts and technologies that include vehicle and grid interaction: tackled for example by metaCCAZE and EBRT2030, are advancing new charging paradigms that support interoperability, smart energy management and integration with urban energy networks.
3. Demonstrate innovative use-cases for the integration of zero tailpipe emission vehicles and infrastructure concepts for the road mobility of people and goods: GIANTS is an example of project focusing on the real-life deployment of integrated mobility systems, generating critical evidence to support wider adoption across diverse urban settings.

Are there any outcomes or relevant achievements worth highlighting?

There are several projects contributing to these areas, such as Mobilities for EU, MetaCCAZE, GIANTS, ZEV-UP, Shift2Zero and EBRT2030. MetaCCAZE, for instance, developed valuable insights in challenges and solutions when it comes to charging infrastructure for buses, enabling zero emission public transport solutions, with a clear use case in Athens.
GIANTS and ZEV-UP are developing modular EV platform for light vehicles, providing solution to both developing and advanced markets. This is quite a challenge!

Are there any relevant success stories that demonstrate high impact or replicability?

Success stories? Not yet, several projects still will run for another 2-3 years, and some of them, such as Shift2Zero, have just started a few months ago.

Is there anything mentioned in the SRIA that is not currently addressed by existing projects? Are there gaps covered by upcoming Work Programmes?

Gaps remaining from running projects should mostly be covered by WP2025, WP2026 and WP2027 calls and projects.
Yet, I think we need to better understand the systemic implications of implementing zero tailpipe emission solutions and, for example, how to adjust operational processes in applications for urban logistic and urban mobility. The projects from our tripartite topic with the CCAM Partnership and the Cities Mission can help us to much better understand related needs from cities and their hinterland, while providing valuable inputs to user centricity and requirement for new generation EV’s. We do need this to enable uptake and relevant market shares.

What should be addressed in FP10?

We need further focus on the user, as individuals, or as city or mobility/logistics service providers. What are services and concepts fully addressing their needs, what tangible requirements to future solutions can we derive from their needs? How can we ensure optimal use of the solutions offered? How can we better anticipate electricity shortage, and create options for grid balancing, using spare EV capacity… such things we still need to advance.

Which main EU policies are addressed or supported by the technology area you are presenting?

The aforementioned projects directly support key EU policies, including the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, by advancing zero-emission urban mobility and transport decarbonisation. They also support the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy by promoting a systemic shift towards clean, connected and automated mobility solutions.
Air quality in urban and sub-urban areas remains a major concern, for policy makers and for citizens. Projects from 2Zero will contribute to accelerate the transition towards zero tailpipe emission vehicles, for all application from individual passenger mobility to buses and urban logistics. This is a key contribution from 2Zero to the well-being of citizens and our societal goals.
Mobilities for EU and metaCCAZE are particularly aligned with the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, acting as large-scale demonstrators in multiple European urban areas. Through real-life testing of innovative mobility services, energy-efficient fleets and data-driven management tools, they contribute to making selected cities frontrunners in the transition to net-zero urban transport.

How do you envision the results of this technology area contributing to a more sustainable Europe?

I think that, together with Pillar 3, it helps to create a bridge between technology development to real-world application and validation in use cases. That bridge is essential to show and prove the added value and applicability of zero tailpipe emission solutions in daily operation.
This can become a driver for broad uptake, directly leading to more sustainable European road mobility and transport.