With EUR 90 bn in annual sales, the Dutch automotive manufacturing and service industry is a sector with important economic significance. A sector that employs over 100,000 individuals. A sector recognized for its strength and innovation. In this sector, we see suppliers of automotive parts as well as services, but also mobility providers, active in the areas of maintenance, sales, rental and lease. Internationally, these companies play a major role in the transition to sustainable, safe and accessible mobility.

In a series of three articles, we zoom in on each of these three themes and give companies an opportunity to speak to the innovation that is high on their agendas. The common thread between them is that they have all taken part in the Automotive Innovation Award, an initiative of ANWB, BOVAG, LeasePlan, RAI Association, RAI Automotive Industry NL and Roland Berger to call more attention to the innovation capacity of the sector. Every two years, prestigious prizes are awarded to Dutch companies with promising innovations. Innovations that make mobility smarter, cleaner, more efficient and safer. At an exclusive dinner on Monday, February 5, 2024, the next Automotive Innovation Awards 2024 will be presented.

This article focuses on accessibility. Or, to be more specific: how do we improve mobility so that as many people as possible get where they want or need to be? And considering the Netherlands is aging, what about the elderly in particular?

Accessibility in all dimensions
A smoothly functioning society relies on the accessibility of facilities, work and residential locations. This brings to mind good infrastructure and punctual train traffic. With the growth of the Dutch population, many new rail lines and highways have been built in recent decades. Cities have grown closer together and the villages and other areas between them are increasingly better connected with each other and the rest of the country. By public transport and by car, motorcycle or bicycle.

But “accessibility” goes beyond these aspects of mobility. Accessibility is also about what possibilities exist for people to travel: can they reach their destination? And can everyone reach their destination? For many, mobility is a stumbling block. Not everyone has a car at their disposal. Not everyone has the financial means to pay for train tickets or gasoline. Not everyone is physically able to get from A to B.

All kinds of obstacles can arise for those who want to get around. Obstacles in transportation, like few or poorly accessible stops, infrequent service, overcrowded trains, trams and buses in peak hours, or precarious infrastructure. There are also obstacles related to the passenger. After all, they must be able to use modes of transport. Whether this is possible depends on factors like income, skills (such as being able to drive a vehicle or ride a bicycle), health or phobias around traffic congestion, for example. In other words, there are many kinds of “accessibility barriers”.

The good news is that the mobility industry in the Netherlands is tackling these problems and developing innovative solutions to improve accessibility, including solutions for passengers for whom travel is not straightforward. Think apps, technological systems, and even new sharing and service concepts.

Accessibility poverty
In situations of limited accessibility, the Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis (KiM) speaks of “accessibility poverty”. This particularly applies to people of lower income, the unemployed, individuals without a driver’s license or car, minorities, residents of rural areas, individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, and the elderly – a group that is growing rapidly.

More elderly, difficult mobility
The Netherlands is aging: the distribution of the population is changing, and the proportion of older age groups is increasing – the average age is going up. According to the CBS, in 1990, 12.8% of the population was over 65. On January 1, 2023, the Netherlands counted more than 3.5 million residents aged 65 or older, or 20.2% of the population. It is expected that by 2030, 4.2 million people will be over 65, almost a quarter of the population.

CBS figures from 2018 show that more than half of those over 65 in the Netherlands feel limited in their mobility due to their health. These limitations are often caused by chronic conditions, physical but also psychological. A 2020 report by RadarAdvies shows that many elderly avoid crowds and have difficulty estimating their own limitations (such as reduced responsiveness).

In recent years, seniors have been increasingly encouraged to delay their transition to a nursing home. Living at home is more economical than living in a nursing home. But living at home primarily means more socialization and contact with loved ones, which is important as it keeps people feeling mentally and physically strong and comfortable. It is important, though, that they can stay mobile. Staying mobile means being able to use public amenities, such as stores and restaurants, and being in regular and “live” contact with family and friends. Mobility is thus vital to what is known as their “social base”.

But those who cannot get around easily or are afraid or driving or crowds prefer to stay at home. This is when loneliness sets in. The government recognizes this problem and explicitly works to motivate seniors to maintain social contact. This is one of the reasons why the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport launched the “een tegen eenzaamheid” campaign (literally: “one against loneliness”). Mobility is a prerequisite for making it possible for the elderly to be “among people” more often.

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Welzorg’s smart mobility scooter: AIA 2019 nominee 2019 or 2021?
“Everyone who uses a mobility scooter has the same nightmare: that it will come to a standstill,” says Sven van de Ven, Service Manager at Welzorg, an organization that provides mobility aids. “We have developed a solution that can eliminate that fear.” That solution is a small case, called the TiM, which can be installed on any mobility scooter. The TiM transmits technical data from the mobility scooter to Welzorg employees via internet. Welzorg can then take proactive or reactive action based on this data. This innovation, called “The Smart Mobility Scooter”, was nominated for the Automotive Innovation Awards in 2021. “The Smart Mobility Scooter ensures that the elderly can get out and about carefree. And that helps combat accessibility poverty.”

If a scooter breaks down, the user can contact Welzorg customer service. Welzorg employees can see the problem right away. Typically, many issues can be solved by the user directly, with Welzorg’s customer support. If the problem cannot be solved over the phone, a mechanic is sent to fix the problem on the spot. Data from the TiM tells the mechanic what the problem is and what parts might be needed, allowing them to work efficiently.

But The Smart Mobility Scooter takes it one step further: by analyzing the data, Welzorg can predict future issues – something that has been possible in the automotive world for some time. The advantage is obvious: by anticipating future malfunctions, unpleasant situations are prevented. “User privacy is fully guaranteed. We fully comply with Dutch privacy law,” Van der Ven emphasizes, answering one of the most frequently asked questions. “We cannot see where the mobility scooter is, unless the user tells us.”

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Customized transportation
Various types of mobility are specifically designed to meet the needs and physical abilities of older individuals, making it easier and safer for them to travel and participate in society.

A common mobility aid for those who have difficulty walking is the rollator. The latest development is a rollator that can be converted into a wheelchair. It can support those walking by themselves but also be quickly transformed for someone to ride. This collapsible rollator fits in the trunk of the car.

Going one step further is the mobility scooter. This electric vehicle allows older individuals with limited mobility to get around easily, both indoors and outdoors. The latest generation of mobility scooters has steering handles and comfortable seats, and is designed for different terrains. Thanks to an innovation from Welzorg, the status of the vehicle can be monitored remotely at all times, and specialist help can be called from anywhere.

Today’s cars are also frequently modified with special seats, wheelchair lifts and hand controls, to name a few. These adaptations enable those with physical disabilities to continue driving, adding to their sense of freedom and independence.

In addition to individual means of transportation, public transportation systems also play a crucial role in senior mobility. Regional public transportation, such as buses, trams and trains, allows seniors to travel longer distances. Such transportation often already has special features for less mobile passengers, such as wheelchair-accessible entrances and seating. For interregional transportation, seniors can use services such as Valys, which arranges cab transportation for people with mobility impairments. This transportation is intended for elderly individuals who want to travel further afield and do not want to depend on regular public transportation.

Converting existing, standard cars, commercial vehicles and buses – for both individual and public transportation – into vehicles suitable for transporting the elderly, who have difficulty walking, involves a great deal of innovation. Take additional lowered entrances or safety features. For the large-scale deployment of such vehicles, the spaces inside them must be set up in a flexible way. In practice, this means places for wheelchairs in addition to regular seating, and a layout that can be quickly adapted.

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The Movitas from Tribus: AIA 2019 finalist
“Solar panels in the roof, all-around double glazing with UV filters, floor and seat heating for passengers, and a co-steering rear axle; it’s all in this mid-size, electric passenger bus,” says Herman Rigterink, retired Director of Technology at the Dutch company Tribus. The company developed this innovative bus, the Movitas, in just 3 years and competed in the 2019 Automotive Innovation Awards, where it was a finalist.

Tribus has been creating wheelchair-accessible passenger transportation since 1998 by cleverly converting existing buses and cars into multipurpose vehicles. An important aspect is that the converted vehicles must meet all applicable safety standards. This often requires innovative solutions. Tribus has added a large number of these to its name, such as a chassis concept that enables a low floor (and thus easy entry) or its integrated wheelchair securement systems. “Our best-known innovation is the TriflexAIR,” Rigterink says proudly. “It is the safest and most durable seat and floor system in the world.”

The drive to constantly innovate was evident in the development of the Movitas. “The bus is modular. That means the Movitas can be made in various lengths and widths. The battery packs are housed in the floor, giving the bus a low center of gravity, which in turn contributes to driving comfort.” Also unique is the vehicle’s maneuverability thanks to all-wheel steering. “The starting point for this design was the need to unlock cities. Maneuverability is crucial to getting into a city’s every nook and cranny. And because you just can’t change a whole city, we changed the bus.”

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Safety
Seniors are more at risk in traffic, and that raises concerns. Data also underscores these concerns: according to the CBS, the number of traffic fatalities in 2022 grew the most among those over 75, up 59% from 2021. Incidentally, this was mainly due to more traffic deaths among cyclists of this age; 150 in 2022, up from 94 the year before. The role of electric bicycles in this development is frequently debated.

According to a 2015 study by Charles Goldenbeld, the elderly often have difficulty processing information and are more likely to be involved in accidents in complex traffic situations, partly for this reason. These include accidents at intersections, accidents involving left turns, merging on highways, and lane changes on highways.

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can help counteract functional impairment in older drivers. For example, such systems can provide timely warnings when a car goes off course or is in danger of colliding with another vehicle or object. But today’s ADAS systems are not tailored for seniors with specific (more severe) impairments in vision, hearing, motor skills or, as touched on earlier, speed of information processing. At worst, an ADAS system may even cause information overload in elderly drivers.

There are several things here to consider. For example, neurological disorders, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, as well as cognitive decline. Lack of up-to-date knowledge can also play a role, for example about changed traffic rules or changed traffic situations. And lastly, a person’s own attitude, which can be influenced by feelings of fear, being too confident, or the view that other road users cause the problems; this can also influence the situation.

Senior mobility
Providing various forms of mobility for the elderly is critical for ensuring their independence, social interaction and access to essential services. Mobility enables seniors to remain actively involved in society and maintain their quality of life, even with physical limitations. It is therefore crucial to continue investing in and innovating mobility solutions for the elderly.