A new ranking has revealed the European cities with the greenest transportation, with surprising results for one of the continent’s largest capitals.
The research by Smart City Expo World Congress compared the volume of electric buses and their fares, the volume of electric cars, and availability of charging points in all Europe’s capital cities, however only the ones whose information was available for all metrics were included in the final list. It also took into account the prevalence of cycling infrastructure and bike rental company penetration. And finally it drew in air pollution data to reach its ranking.
1. London
London is in pole position with a green transportation score of 5.87, according to the Smart City analysis. Despite being one of the largest cities in Europe, London maintains what the team called “moderate pollution level of 8.40.” After Oslo, the UK capital has the second highest quantity of electric vehicles on its roads (80,000) and more than 11,000 charging stations, giving drivers easy access. But the real game-changer for London appears to be its massive electric bus network. It is aiming for a zero-emissions fleet by 2034 and currently has 1,397 buses in operation – that’s well over a thousand more than most other capitals in the top 10.
2. Amsterdam
Famously, Amsterdam has more bicycles on its roads, than cars, 15,000 of them electric, with access to over 13,000 charging stations across the city and over 800 km of bike lanes, served by a wide range of bike rental companies. With a score of 5.71, the Dutch capital ranks second on the list.
3. Vienna
Though the City of Music has 18,000 electric vehicles, it has only 1,374 charging points available. Still, with “a comprehensive network of subways, trams, and buses,” and “an extensive network of bike lanes, totaling 1,300 km, along with numerous bike rental services”, the city comes third for green transportation.
4. Berlin
Berlin boasts 30,000 electric cars, with one charging station for every 8 cars. Its first electric buses were introduced nearly a decade ago and it now has a fleet of 230. Bicycles are also “a key mode of transport for Berlin residents, who benefit from 1,000 km of cycle lanes throughout the city,” Smart City says.
5. Helsinki
With more metres of bike lanes per inhabitant, than any other European city, over 25,000 electric cars and 450 electric buses, and a pollution rate below five, the Finnish capital takes fifth place, with a green transportation score of 5.36.
6. Paris
Thanks to a network of 500 electric buses and a relatively high proportion of electric cars (20,000) on its streets due to previous government incentives, such as free parking for electric vehicles, Paris manages sixth place in the list, despite its pollution rate of 10.30. However, the loss of green subsidies could jeopardise that spot, the researchers warn.
7. Oslo
Alongside its fleet of 150 electric buses, as mentioned, Norway’s capital is the only European city to beat London for numbers of electric cars (95,466), with EVs now holding an 80% market share, according to Smart City. Its low pollution level (6.9), means it is closer to zero emissions than many other European conurbations.
8. Andorra
It is Andorra’s natural environment that helps keep its pollution low, the researchers say, rather than its relatively small fleets of electric cars (100) and electric buses (10). But interestingly, Vaduz in Lichtenstein, arguably similar in geography and size, sits towards the bottom end of the list.
9. Brussels
While its 14,000 electric cars put the Belgian capital in line with many European capitals, its shameful stable of only 75 electric buses is smaller than Andorra’s. What it lacks in bus numbers though, it makes up for in pedal power. Its 650 km of bike lanes help keep the city in Europe’s top 10, with a score of 4.93 in the ranking.
10. Luxembourg
Similarly, Luxumbourg may only have 30 electric buses, but its small size means its 500 km of bike lanes are sufficient to cover the city. What’s more, its 10,000 electric vehicles minimise pollution to the extent it makes the top 10.
And the least green cities?
At the bottom end of the green city scale, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has the lowest air quality in all of Europe and a Green Transport Score of just 2.80, preceded by Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia; the afore-mentioned Vaduz; Cyprus’ capital Nicosia and Vilnius, Lithuania, which “fell down on air quality and a lack of cycling routes,” the analysists said.
