Your cargo to the theater emission-free
28 may 2023
As my drama teacher used to say, if you don't know where the theater is, you go to the city centre, look for the church there and in that neighbourhood you will find the theatre. That was well before the smartphone, but for the theater's location, that is actually still true. Many theaters are located downtown. And as a result of the politics of cultural spreading, as we know it in the Netherlands, hundreds of large and small trucks drive to and from all these theaters and other venues in the city centres of the Netherlands every day.
How will that work out in the near future?
Under the new Environment Act, municipalities are required to prepare an Environment Vision. The Environment Vision brings together multiple visions into one integral story about the physical environment. Think cultural heritage, water, housing, environment, landscape, health, soil quality, mobility, economy and settlement quality. Although the Environment Act does not take effect until 2024, more than 50 municipalities have already drawn up such a vision.
Of those 50, it is already known that 28 of them will adopt a zero-emission policy starting in 2025 with a possible roll-out to 2030.
Municipalities often particularly want to reduce heavy truck traffic from city centers. What is still allowed must be emission-free and sometimes, because of the physical environment or because of traffic safety, may not exceed 7500kg or may not be longer than 10m.
It seems likely that other municipalities will follow suit. So zero emission small trucks will have to be driven to theaters and pop venues in the near future.
Under the new Environment Act, municipalities are required to prepare an Environment Vision. The Environment Vision brings together multiple visions into one integral story about the physical environment. Think cultural heritage, water, housing, environment, landscape, health, soil quality, mobility, economy and settlement quality. Although the Environment Act does not take effect until 2024, more than 50 municipalities have already drawn up such a vision.
Of those 50, it is already known that 28 of them will adopt a zero-emission policy starting in 2025 with a possible roll-out to 2030.
Municipalities often particularly want to reduce heavy truck traffic from city centers. What is still allowed must be emission-free and sometimes, because of the physical environment or because of traffic safety, may not exceed 7500kg or may not be longer than 10m.
It seems likely that other municipalities will follow suit. So zero emission small trucks will have to be driven to theaters and pop venues in the near future.
If this is going to happen it will also have consequences for the way the theaters and touring companies work.
Below is a small summary of the possible consequences, which in the coming period we will address separately.
Below is a small summary of the possible consequences, which in the coming period we will address separately.
What might the consequences be?
With the displacement of the large, heavy, polluting freight traffic from the centers of cities will being initiated, then the freight will probably be transferred to zero-emission small trucks. This could take place in hubs situated on the edges of cities.
Amsterdam is one such city where large heavy truck traffic will be forbidden starting in 2025. One reason is the overloading of bridges and quays. Therefore, especially larger theaters suchh as Carré, ITA and NO&B have to register their transports in advance. They are then given permission to drive to and from the theaters with heavy (diesel) trucks. How long this will be tolerated is not known. More important is the question of how venues like De La Mar, Frascati, Bellevue, Paradiso, Kleine Komedie and all the other theaters in the center are going to resolve this.
With the displacement of the large, heavy, polluting freight traffic from the centers of cities will being initiated, then the freight will probably be transferred to zero-emission small trucks. This could take place in hubs situated on the edges of cities.
Amsterdam is one such city where large heavy truck traffic will be forbidden starting in 2025. One reason is the overloading of bridges and quays. Therefore, especially larger theaters suchh as Carré, ITA and NO&B have to register their transports in advance. They are then given permission to drive to and from the theaters with heavy (diesel) trucks. How long this will be tolerated is not known. More important is the question of how venues like De La Mar, Frascati, Bellevue, Paradiso, Kleine Komedie and all the other theaters in the center are going to resolve this.
What are touring companies and productions up against?
Suppose that traveling companies have to tranship their production materials into smaller emission-free trucks at a commercial hub. There would be costs involved. Not only in the establishment and maintenance of the hub, but also in personnel costs, considering that in each city there would have to be two transhipments. One can also think of changing the tractor. However, this is not yet possible for rigid trucks and does not make sense if you cannot enter the city center with a low-emission city or mega trailer.
Suppose that traveling companies have to tranship their production materials into smaller emission-free trucks at a commercial hub. There would be costs involved. Not only in the establishment and maintenance of the hub, but also in personnel costs, considering that in each city there would have to be two transhipments. One can also think of changing the tractor. However, this is not yet possible for rigid trucks and does not make sense if you cannot enter the city center with a low-emission city or mega trailer.
So is investing in zero-emission trucks an option?
Both set transporters Pieter Smit and Van Lankveld are in the process of purchasing such trucks. The supply of electric trucks is limited and the costs are extremely high.
A new tractor running on diesel costs ± € 100,000. An electric tractor costs ± € 310,000. A tractor running on hydrogen, without subsidies, comes to about €500,000. Electric box trucks do exist, but they have a short chassis so that a body of no more than 6 meters fits on it. The cost of such an electric box truck is €150,000. Such a small box truck is lighter than 7500kg, but because of the weight of the batteries, only about 2500kg of payload remains. In addition, these box trucks have a range of ±200km. In short transport if it is available at all becomes more expensive.
Both set transporters Pieter Smit and Van Lankveld are in the process of purchasing such trucks. The supply of electric trucks is limited and the costs are extremely high.
A new tractor running on diesel costs ± € 100,000. An electric tractor costs ± € 310,000. A tractor running on hydrogen, without subsidies, comes to about €500,000. Electric box trucks do exist, but they have a short chassis so that a body of no more than 6 meters fits on it. The cost of such an electric box truck is €150,000. Such a small box truck is lighter than 7500kg, but because of the weight of the batteries, only about 2500kg of payload remains. In addition, these box trucks have a range of ±200km. In short transport if it is available at all becomes more expensive.
What other consequences might occur?
Perhaps traveling productions will become smaller. Or there will be less traveling. Or more material assistance will be required of the receiving theaters.
Large subsidized companies may start traveling with smaller productions. After all, a smaller production in physical size says nothing about the quality or expressiveness of the production. And from an environmental standpoint, there is also something to be said for it.
Perhaps because of the smaller radius of action of emission-free trucks, the companies will focus more on their own region.
Receiving theaters will certainly be required to invest as well. In addition to charging stations in the expedition and/or buffer storage, the large roofs of the theaters may require solar panels. In addition, they will need more equipment, since the traveling productions can take less with them. Traveling productions often bring specific lighting and video equipment, because not every theater has the same quality of equipment.
It would help if more unity were sought for these components. Equipment could be made riderproof. Riderproof already applies to speaker systems, but it would also be good, in this time of transition to LED lighting, to think about riderproof lights or riderproof projectors.
These are big investments for theaters, but such a new beginning offers, for both theaters and traveling companies, new opportunities.
Less equipment to bring along, because the desired equipment is already there. Only the performance data is taken and linked to the equipment of the receiving theater. The traveling production connects its data to the theater's equipment. Less transportation, less lugging of equipment, less connecting of cables. Faster, more convenient and therefore cheaper and because of less transportation, better for the climate.
Perhaps traveling productions will become smaller. Or there will be less traveling. Or more material assistance will be required of the receiving theaters.
Large subsidized companies may start traveling with smaller productions. After all, a smaller production in physical size says nothing about the quality or expressiveness of the production. And from an environmental standpoint, there is also something to be said for it.
Perhaps because of the smaller radius of action of emission-free trucks, the companies will focus more on their own region.
Receiving theaters will certainly be required to invest as well. In addition to charging stations in the expedition and/or buffer storage, the large roofs of the theaters may require solar panels. In addition, they will need more equipment, since the traveling productions can take less with them. Traveling productions often bring specific lighting and video equipment, because not every theater has the same quality of equipment.
It would help if more unity were sought for these components. Equipment could be made riderproof. Riderproof already applies to speaker systems, but it would also be good, in this time of transition to LED lighting, to think about riderproof lights or riderproof projectors.
These are big investments for theaters, but such a new beginning offers, for both theaters and traveling companies, new opportunities.
Less equipment to bring along, because the desired equipment is already there. Only the performance data is taken and linked to the equipment of the receiving theater. The traveling production connects its data to the theater's equipment. Less transportation, less lugging of equipment, less connecting of cables. Faster, more convenient and therefore cheaper and because of less transportation, better for the climate.
With the transition to zero-emission trucks, theaters will have to start being equipped with dedicated truck charging stations. There will be more than enough time to recharge. Perhaps even so much time that the truck charging point can also be used commercially for other trucks. After all, where in downtown can you find a parking lot with a charging point?
The transition to zero-emission freight transport is irreversible; it is going to happen, especially in the downtown area. Theaters will not leave downtown. So theaters and theater companies have to start doing something. We should not wait until only commercial energy and transportation parties can benefit. Downtown construction is also affected and adapting. There is an opportunity now to anticipate this development and make changes. That requires discussions with industry associations, municipalities, the province and the state. Pull it broader than just that truck, see the opportunities, start the conversation.
To be continued!
Next time talks with transporters.