Zero Emission Vehicles Policy Lab

China, the United States and The Netherlands founded the China ZEV policy lab to facilitate governments to cooperate in supporting the expansion of the global market for zero emission vehicles, both battery and fuel cell vehicles. Its goal is to accelerate the large scale roll out of electric vehicles.

The policy lab focuses on  two activities: policy exchange between the three governments and policy research and publications.

In 2020, Rijkswaterstaat asked APPM to study the key policies of three front-running regions on zero emission (electric) transport: Shenzhen (China), California and The Netherlands. Download the report International comparison sustainable transport approach.

Government to government policy exchange

The latest workshop of the ZEV policy lab took place as part of the first Dutch virtual trade mission to the EVS33 in the USA, focusing on one successful key policy of each front-runner and the role of Public Private Partnerships.

In 2019, 3 workshops in 3 continents were held to exchange policy best practices and determine the key success factors for EV uptake in each of the 3 front-runner regions:

  • workshop 1 (Beijing, January 2019) on ‘How to reach 100% ZEV sales’
  • workshop 2 (New York, May 2019) on ‘Smart Charging’
  • workshop 3 (Netherlands, October 2019) on ‘Renewable energy in Mobility: the role of hydrogen and the role of smart E-mobility’

Electrified bus and taxi fleet in Shenzhen

Shenzhen with a completely electrified bus- and taxi fleet

Policy research and publications

In 2020, the report International comparison sustainable transport approach by APPM was published.

During their visit to Shenzhen in January 2019 the Dutch government published a series of blogs (only available in Dutch) regarding policy exchange with China.

In September 2019, a Dutch delegation and several companies explored the economic opportunities in China for Dutch companies in the field of LEV, NEV and ZEV. We are now aiming at a possible extension of the Coast-to-Coast Smart E-mobility program between California and The Netherlands, to another Coast – of China.

International Zero Emission Vehicle Alliance (iZEVA)

In light of the International Zero Emission Vehicle Alliance (iZEVA) the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management cooperates with 15 other governmental institutions to facilitate and accelerate the large scale roll out of zero emission vehicles. Rijkswaterstaat executes the ZEV China policy lab on behalf the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management.

In the ZEV China policy lab Rijkswaterstaat cooperates intensively with the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre and the University of California Davis to perpetuate her international frontrunners role on the topic of ZEV. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalized this unique consortium during the Global Climate Action Summit in September 2019. The three parties signed the MOU (pdf, 296 kB) at the Summit in attendance of the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Van Veldhoven, Governor Born of California and Minister Xie Zhenhua of China.

Climate change

This international cooperation fits perfectly in the Dutch policy for the energy transition and sustainable mobility. China, California and the Netherlands all acknowledge the necessity to reduce Greenhouse gas emission in the transport sector for both the quality of life of its citizens and to reduce further climate change. For these reasons, the frontrunners develop innovative policies. By the international promotion of ZEV usage the alliance can accelerate the demand of the end users and with that lower the costs of ZEV.