IFS Audiovisueel is expanding its electric fleet. Alongside an electric crew car and an electric van, an electric Renault Master box van (city box) joins us in December, for larger quantities of equipment. The vehicles are charged with power from 36 solar panels on our own roof. This allows us to deliver emission-free, including in the zero-emission zones of the major Dutch cities.
Anyone organising a conference, event or meeting mainly thinks of what happens in the room when it comes to technology. Yet every project starts earlier: with loading in Rijswijk and the drive to the venue. An event quickly involves several trips with equipment and technicians. Transport is a part of our work that is rarely visible, but it has a clear impact.
In this blog we explain why we are choosing an electric fleet, what changes in December and what this means for organisations that work with us, especially in cities with a zero-emission zone.
Why we are choosing an electric fleet
The main reason is simple. We believe it is important to contribute to a liveable future for the generations that follow. For a rental and production company, transport is a significant source of emissions. That is exactly where there is something to gain.
We also notice that our clients are increasingly aware of this. Many organisations work with sustainability targets, and the emissions of their suppliers count towards them. Anyone who wants to organise an event as sustainably as possible looks not only at catering and materials, but also at how the technology gets to the venue. With an electric fleet we can continue to support our loyal clients in this.
The third reason is practical. More and more Dutch cities are introducing zero-emission zones for commercial vehicles. Anyone who wants to keep delivering there in the future needs emission-free vehicles.
What we drive now and what joins us in December
We currently drive two electric vehicles. The electric crew car takes our technicians to the venues. The electric van carries equipment for our daily rental work, from microphones and interpreting sets to screens and lighting.
In December a third vehicle joins them: an electric Renault Master in box van configuration, known in the Netherlands as a city box. It has a rectangular cargo box intended for larger goods and larger quantities. Think of complete conference setups, stage sections, large screens and flight cases for multi-day events. Trips that previously required more transport can soon be carried out fully electrically.
Driving on our own solar power
Electric driving is only truly clean if the power is too. On the roof of our building in Rijswijk there are 36 solar panels that supply our fleet with power. On sunny days we generate more than we use at that moment.
We do not want that surplus power to go to waste. That is why we are expanding the installation with a large 50 kWh battery. It stores the power left over during the day so we can use it later, for example to charge the vehicles in the evening or at night after a day on location. This way we drive on power we have generated ourselves as much as possible.
Zero-emission zones: what do they mean for your event?
Since 2025, several Dutch municipalities have introduced a zero-emission zone for urban logistics, including The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht. In such a zone, rules for vans and lorries become stricter step by step. The aim is that eventually only emission-free commercial vehicles will be allowed in. There is political debate about the pace, but the direction is clear.
For organisers this means the technology supplier must be able to reach the venue without problems in the future too. Many of the conference venues, hotels, government buildings and international organisations where we work are located in the city centres of The Hague and the surrounding area. With an electric fleet, clients do not have to worry about this: the equipment simply arrives on time, without exemptions or detours.
Quiet, clean loading and unloading
An often underestimated advantage is noise. Electric vehicles are much quieter than diesel vehicles. That makes a difference at venues in residential areas or city centres, where loading and unloading takes place early in the morning or late in the evening. A setup at six in the morning or a breakdown after midnight causes less disturbance to local residents.
It is more pleasant at the venue itself too. No diesel engine running at the loading entrance, no exhaust fumes at the front door where guests arrive. It fits the polished image an event deserves, behind the scenes as well.
What this means for our clients
In practice little changes for clients, and that is exactly the point. Equipment is delivered, set up and collected in the same way. What does change is what happens under the bonnet. With more than sixty years of experience in AV technology, we know that reliability comes first. Electric driving must not detract from that, which is why we plan our trips and charging times carefully.
For organisations that report on their event in a sustainability report, it also delivers something concrete: the transport of the technology is emission-free and largely powered by our own solar energy.
Frequently asked questions
Can IFS Audiovisueel deliver in a zero-emission zone?
Yes. We drive an electric crew car, an electric van and, from December, an electric Renault Master box van. This allows us to deliver emission-free, including in cities with a zero-emission zone such as The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Why a box van?
A box van, or city box, has a large rectangular cargo area. It fits larger goods and quantities, such as complete conference setups, stage sections and flight cases. This means larger trips can also be carried out electrically.
Where does the power for the vehicles come from?
From 36 solar panels on the roof of our building in Rijswijk. The installation is being expanded with a 50 kWh battery, so power left over during the day can be used later to charge the vehicles.
Does anything change about delivery for clients?
No. Delivery, setup and collection work as always. The difference lies in the transport itself: emission-free, quieter and largely powered by our own solar energy.
In closing
With the arrival of the electric box van in December, we are taking the next step in making our transport more sustainable. Three electric vehicles, charged with power from our own roof and soon supported by a 50 kWh battery. This allows us to keep serving our clients wherever they need us, including in the zero-emission zones of the major cities. And on our own scale, we contribute to a future the next generations can build on.
