Brussels is the first city in Europe to replace horse-drawn carriages with electric vehicles (finally!)

Finally some good news: Brussels it is the first city in Europe to complete the transition from horse-drawn carriages to electric ones for tourist tours. This decision, implemented starting from June 2024, finally addresses the ethical issues related to animal welfare and logistical issues that were making it increasingly difficult to maintain a business based on the use of horses.

The project was carried out by Thibault Danthine, an entrepreneur who won a funding tender from the city of Brussels in 2022. Danthine explained that, in addition to difficulties in finding specialized staff to drive the carriages, there was a growing awareness of the animal abuse employed for long periods in crowded urban environments.

This ethical change pushed the entrepreneur to sell his six horses and invest in electric vehiclesconvinced that this new form of tourist transport would be welcomed positively by the public. The new electric carriages, built in Poland, were developed taking inspiration from the design of ancient carriages but with modern technologies.

The carriages have a range of approximately 120 kilometres

The Anderson brand, chosen for these carriages, is a tribute to Robert Anderson, the inventor of the first electric carriage in the 19th century. The vehicles have an autonomy of approx 120 kilometers and they must be recharge every two daysensuring efficient and sustainable operation in the urban context.

The transition has been greeted with enthusiasm by Brussels residents and tourists. Many residents of the city pointed out i benefits of this changenot only for the reduction of the noise generated by the horses, but above all for the improvement of the living conditions of the animals which were used for many hours a day in a city with high levels of traffic.

The initiative attracted the attention of other citieswho have already contacted Danthine to consider adopting similar electric carriages. This model could pave the way for a broader transformation of the tourism sector, promoting a form of mobility that is more respectful of animals and the environment. When will this finally happen in Italy too?