After years of prototypes across the globe, there’s now a greater push for designing 15-minute cities. They are communities and populated urban areas that provide all the essentials, from grocery stores and power supplies to cultural hubs, restaurants, and schools within a 15-minute walk radius. These 15-minute cities are modern solutions to urban planning that prioritize sustainability and green initiatives alongside convenience.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are also modern solutions that promote environmentally friendlier communities. They transform how society travels with a push for a more eco-conscious alternative. Both 15-minute city design plans and EVs provide the potential to make effective green cities. Here is how both will create sustainable communities that’ll benefit residents and the planet.
Lowered Carbon Emissions
Unlike traditional motor vehicles, EVs produce little to no carbon emissions. They run on electricity, which is a greener and renewable energy source. Walking, biking, skateboarding, and many other alternative modes of travel also generate little to no carbon pollution.
On the other hand, 15-minute cities minimize the need for motor cars as all their essentials are within a doable walk or bike ride. Their promotion of alternative modes of transportation reduces the city’s carbon footprint.
Although 15-minute cities mitigate the need for cars, those with disabilities or traveling out of town to visit family will still need access to cars. Pairing EVs with 15-minute cities greatly reduces greenhouse gas pollution while still making sure people have full access to their various needs.
Maximized Land Space Use
Consolidating people’s essentials—workplaces, schools, stores, entertainment, and postal services—within a restricted radius of 15 minutes challenges urban planners to maximize smaller land space. But doing so also conserves land, reduces deforestation, reduces the use of limited resources, and preserves areas for wildlife, among many other environmental benefits.
EVs help communities maximize land because their charging stations offer placement flexibility. Unlike gas stations, EV charging solutions are more compact and can be installed in many already-established locations, like apartment complexes and outside of commercial businesses.
Streamlined Daily Productivity
A major proponent of sustainability is conservation. Having 15-minute cities saves people time typically spent on commuting and traveling between stores and necessary daily stops. It also streamlines people’s daily productivity, conserving their time and allowing them to get more done.
Since EV charging solutions provide a lot of placement flexibility, they open up the opportunity to streamline the process of refueling your car. One of the many benefits of installing an EV charging station at apartments is that it allows people to recharge while also making dinner, tucking the kids to bed, cleaning up their space, or working. Unlike gas pumps, EV chargers don’t require you to stay and monitor the vehicle as you refuel. You just plug them in and spend your time elsewhere while your vehicle charges.
EVs and 15-minute cities generate the potential to produce sustainable communities. They reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, maximize and preserve land, resources, and people’s time, and enhance productivity. EVs also promote self-sufficient communities.
Both 15-minute urban planning and EVs are modern designs that work together with environmental initiatives to benefit not only the planet but also its inhabitants. Each sustainable practice generates influential environmental and sustainable solutions. Merging the two concepts opens up new possibilities for moving toward a greener and healthier future.