Van Leijen satisfied with his switch to electric driving

Jos van Leijen at his all-electric van

On 1 January 2028, Almere will introduce zero-emission zones (ZE zones) for vans and trucks in the centres of Almere Stad, Haven and Buiten. In doing so, we are working towards a healthier, cleaner and more pleasant living environment. But what does this mean concretely for entrepreneurs?

"In Almere, there is a charger on every street corner"

In August 2025, Jos van Leijen, owner of a carpentry business, purchased a new Transport Custom. His previous company bus was a diesel with some construction defects. This time, he opted for an all-electric version. Although he could also have opted for a new diesel or a hybrid variant, he decided otherwise: "other cities will switch over earlier, and then I will no longer be able to use the transitional regime," Jos said.

Great to do

As Jos does not have his own driveway, he uses public charging stations. "In Almere, there is a charger on every street corner. And on other jobs outside Almere, I already paid attention to where charging stations were located. Many contractors have their own charging stations. That's fine." Earlier, he made the switch to electric driving privately. He also experiences no obstacles abroad: using an app, he easily locates charging stations. "A weekend trip to Texel and to Denmark on holiday. No problem."

Charging machines

Both in summer and winter, he has yet to experience any disadvantages of electric driving. The battery range is also satisfactory. "In the past six months, I had many jobs in Dronten and drove 100 kilometres a day without any problems. A bigger battery again costs capacity for the materials in the van. In the new one, it is exactly the same as in the old bus. And I now also have a 230-volt inverter in the bus, with which I can charge my machines. Earlier, I had to do that with a generator."

Upgrade battery

Technological developments around batteries are moving fast. Jos explains: "I normally drive a bus for about four years, so by then I'll start looking at another one. Or I'll upgrade the battery pack." His advice to other entrepreneurs: "Look at how many kilometres you do in a day. With more than 300 kilometres in a day, you'll be at the fast charger every day. Even then it is doable, because there are already a lot of fast chargers along the highways."

More information and an up-to-date overview of all ZE zones in the Netherlands can be found at doehetzero.nl or opwegnaarzes.nl.

Need help switching to an electric bus or truck? Make an appointment with the logistics consultant at stadslogistiek@almere.nl