The Belgian car sharing platform Poppy expands its free-floating fleet in Brussels with 60 electric Volkswagen e-Transporter vans. The choice to go electric was partly made because of fiscal reasons.
Previously, Poppy’s fleet had already been expanded with VW Transporter models with an internal combustion engine. Vans seem a good addition to the free-floating car sharing service, since many people will need one at certain points in time.
Poppy says it wants to cater to individuals that need to drop off bulky items at the recycling centre or move house, for example. But the company also sees businesses as potential customers, using it as a quick fix or for temporary assignments. The vans can be booked for sessions of up to 2 weeks through the Poppy Share app, but also for periods between one and 24 months via Poppy Lease.
Federal Mobility Budget
Poppy says its choice for electric vans is a logical one, given the low emission zone in Brussels. Moreover, the car sharing platform believes the Belgian federal ‘Mobility Budget’, which will be mandatory from January 1st 2027, will bring in extra users. The mobility budget includes a separate pillar for electric hire cars, so employees can use it to hire an e-Transporter.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is one of the brands in the importation portfolio of D’Ieteren, the holding Poppy is also part of. The brand’s Belgian Managing Director, Koen Van Minnebruggen, not only sees it as a way for D’Ieteren brands to use each other’s expertise. He says it is also a test case for Volkswagen, which can learn from the different profiles of drivers using the vans.
Brussels only
Just like the other Poppy vehicles, the new electric vans will be free-floating. But contrary to the rest of the fleet, they will only be available for pick-up and drop-off in Brussels, not Antwerp.
Poppy does however mention that the its customers will be able to use the VW e-Transporter in Antwerp, just not start or end the rental there. Parking and charging fees are included for the Flemish city, as they are in Brussels. Poppy will ensure that the e-Transporters are recharged before every use. The vans have an official electric range of 372 km.
The e-Transporters in Poppy’s fleet feature a 3-seat row in the front and a paneled load area capable of transporting up to 1.3 tonnes. They come well-equipped, with parking sensors, a back-up camera and side mirrors featuring a blind spot feature to safely park and navigate urban roads.
