New destination for lost smoke station: charging station for e-bikes.

Amsterdam, October 2020 – By 2040, the Netherlands wants to be a smoke-free country. Therefore, as of this month, all Dutch train stations are smoke-free. ProRail devised a green, healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to the smoke poles at the stations: a transformation into a charging station for e-bikes. Amsterdam-based Lightwell is responsible for its development and presented the charging station last week during the Dutch Design Week.

Old materials upcycle

Designer Florian Mesch of Lightwell, who specialises in smart city solutions, thinks it is a striking example of upcycling, in which old materials are given a new, sustainable function: “Lightwell is always looking for ways to make such a second cycle possible”, he points out the company philosophy. “In everything we market, we think about longevity. Most of our products last at least 20 years. Because we can’t possibly predict what’s needed at the moment, we’re building all our smart city products modularly. Every part and function must be adaptable to the wishes of the time. As a result, products will eventually last longer.”

Less inconvenience for rail passengers

With completely smoke-free stations, ProRail and NS meet the wishes of the vast majority of passengers, who experience nuisance from smoking fellow travellers. ProRail and NS are also contributing to the goal of a smoke-free generation by 2040. Not only hundreds of smoke poles, but also ashtray tile grilles and signage signs have been removed and stored. Reuse of these waste materials fits perfectly into the circularity vision of ProRail, NS and Bureau Spoorbouwmeester. In total, these are materials from some 400 stations with about 2.5 million visitors every day.

About ProRail

For rail operator ProRail, sustainability is an important strategic pillar. Rail is one of the most sustainable forms of transport. By enabling more sustainable mobility, ProRail wants to contribute to the achievement of the international climate goals. It is important that ProRail as an organisation also works sustainably. By encouraging the reuse of materials, ProRail is working towards a completely climate neutral and circular rail infrastructure by 2050. Prorail.nl

About Lightwell

Lightwell is a hardware system integrator and production company. It looks at the available technology and analyzes what the trends are. Lightwell designs a product that is a response to these long-term projections, creating space for partners to realize all available and desired Smart City ambitions through technology. In this way, the Dutch company is shaping the world with integrated charging solutions that seamlessly connect with the society of today and tomorrow.

Lightwell produces in the Netherlands and offers people with a distance from the labour market a workplace in the factory in Almere. The Amsterdam office is the base where plans are devised to help municipalities practically fulfil their green and future-proof ambitions.