There’s no denying our climate is in crisis. In the last year, we have seen soaring summer temperatures across Europe, raging forest fires in parts of North America, and terrifying floods in Australia and Pakistan. To save our planet and our future, we need innovative ideas and new ways of thinking. Different business sectors have been scrambling to become more eco-conscious, but one area that is driving change is mobility. Mobility covers a wide range of products and services from electric bikes and scooters, to car-sharing apps, and electric vehicles, right up to data management companies. Over the last couple of years, the European transport and mobility sector has undergone huge change due to the advent of new technology and the growing demand for more sustainable and accessible products. European cities such as Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Berlin are leading the charge according to the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index for 2022. But it’s clear that there is an appetite for sustainable mobility right across Europe. Because the field of sustainability is so large, employment opportunities are literally endless. So, whether you work in sales or software development, you need to pay attention to these exciting companies.
Tesla
At this stage, Tesla has become synonymous with electric cars, but the company produces a lot more than upscale vehicles. Tesla also designs and manufactures battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related products and services. While the company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, the entire European arm of the business is run from the Netherlands with the company’s import and distribution centre located at Tilburg, around 70 miles from Amsterdam. Each year, Tesla releases its impact report which details the effect the company has on the environment (both good and bad). According to the 2021 report, the global fleet of Tesla vehicles, energy storage, and solar panels enabled customers to avoid emitting 8.4 million metric tons of Co2. Not bad.
Uber
It’s impossible to talk about sustainable mobility without discussing ride-sharing services, which brings us to Uber, the world’s largest ride-share company. Founded in San Francisco back in 2009, it quickly grew to become one of the world’s most valuable startups. Uber is available in a number of European cities, including Amsterdam, London, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Athens, and Vienna. While an app that often uses petrol and diesel cars might not scream sustainability to you, there are plenty of things Uber does to help the environment too. It’s committed to having net zero emissions by 2040. Uber plans to do this by supporting drivers’ transition to electric vehicles, switching to renewable electricity, and expanding multimodal options to provide sustainable alternatives to personal cars, including through public transit and micro-mobility.
Citya
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. That’s certainly the case with the Citya app. Unlike traditional transport systems with set timetables, fixed stops, and long wait times, Citya is a demand-responsive transport tool that is much more flexible. Users simply request a ride in the app, and the algorithm will find the best route with arrival time and price. Rides are very affordable (less than a cup of coffee) and users share rides in a hybrid minivan to save emissions. Citya is already making waves in the Czech Republic and Poland, with plans to expand into Berlin soon.
Airbus
If you went on holiday this summer, it’s likely you flew on an Airbus. Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, with its head office in Toulouse, France. Of course, air travel has a pretty bad reputation when it comes to sustainability and the environment. However, the company hopes to change this. According to its website, Airbus is actively working to reduce the CO2 emissions from its aircraft, as well as its industrial footprint. But it doesn’t end there: it plans to launch the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035. Watch this space.
Lucid Motors
Lucid Motors is a US-based electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2007 and led by former Tesla executive Peter Rawlinson. Earlier this year, the company opened its first studio in Munich. One of Lucid’s biggest selling points is its sustainability credentials. Its Lucid Air model is hailed as the most efficient EV ever made. The company also only uses materials from responsible suppliers, with a focus on recyclability. Interested in the exciting field of sustainable mobility? Drive the next stage of your career on the House of Talent Job Board today
