Mobility

Decarbonization by 2030

Decarbonization by 2030

Renewable mobility, a combination of e-mobility and energy transition, is considered the crucial key to achieving a real emissions turn, and with that the agreed climate goals. Nevertheless, the turn is affecting major corporations in the automotive, oil and construction industry. The mobility industry is now on the verge of upheaval. But it is not only ambitious climate goals that call for action. It is the economic success of renewable energies worldwide that, in combination with digitalization, is changing the predictions and shifting decarbonization by 2030 into the realm of possibility. This is already shown by current applications. By Christiane Schulzki-Haddouti. Translated by Alexandra Bartelt & Denis Francis read more
Cities Use the Space

Cities Use the Space

The strategies for changing cities range from a city congestion charge and free local transport to car-free days. Bicycle highways, streetcars and electric busses are also part of the strategy. Municipal administrations and urban economy can do a lot for the attractiveness of this range of options by creating their own transport transition, which is driven by the citizens. By Thorsten Koska and Stephan Rammler. Translated by Julia Baur & Bianca Bauer. read more
The Domino Effect: the Mobility Transition as an Engine for the ‘Great Transformation’

The Domino Effect: the Mobility Transition as an Engine for the ‘Great Transformation’

In a number of ways, the change of today’s car-dependent society is like a domino for a ‘Great Transformation’. There is hardly any field that is as intensively linked to the other key ‘transitions’ to a sustainable society, and there is no other field with such a close connection with the specific functionalities of the current economy. Therefore, ‘future literacy’ in the area of mobility goes far beyond the transport sector. By Uwe Scheidewind. ?Translated by Kevin Bongard & Kevin Beckmann. read more
Mach die Wende!

Mach die Wende!

Während sich Politik und automobile Wirtschaft bisher nur langsam bewegen, könnten engagierte Konsumenten und Unternehmer die Verkehrswende schneller voranbringen. Klar ist: Verstopfte Straßen und drohende Fahrverbote machen alternative Mobilitätskonzepte zunehmend attraktiv. Von der Elektrifizierung des Fuhrparks durch Sonne vom Firmendach bis zu Lastenbikes für Familien reicht das Programm, das sich längst nicht mehr nur mit Fördergeldern rechnet. Von Kira Crome read more
Guter Verkehr ist reine Ökoroutine

Guter Verkehr ist reine Ökoroutine

Mit den Konzepten der so genannten Ökoroutine ließe sich die Verkehrswende konsequent einleiten. Würden zum Beispiel Straßen und Flughäfen nicht erweitert, Bus- und Bahnverbindungen dafür umso mehr, wäre das ein erster Schritt in Richtung suffiziente Mobilität. Bau- und Verkehrsindustrie hätten auch dann noch genug zu tun. Ein Aufruf von Michael Kopatz read more
Von der Automobilindustrie zur Mobilitätsindustrie

Von der Automobilindustrie zur Mobilitätsindustrie

Die Automobilindustrie hat mit Millionen Arbeitsplätzen in den Werken und bei Zulieferern einen hohen Anteil an der bisherigen Wertschöpfung. Mit dem Mobilitätswandel wird diese durch veränderte Antriebsformate einerseits geringer. Andererseits kann sie als Mobilitätsdienstleister erneut entstehen. Wie Zukunftsmodelle für Unternehmen und Arbeitnehmer aussehen können und wie der Staat den Ausstieg industriepolitisch stützen kann. Von Oliver Lah read more

Looking Forward to 2035

Isn’t mobility in Germany just great nowadays? While it was formerly a tricky matter to have meetings regularly with your co-workers, I can now travel to the country’s furthest corners with an autonomous bus — and return even late at night. Depending on the weather and the amount of time I have, I can also choose to use the e-bike sharing system. In a pinch I can take an e-convertible. And thanks to maintenance by Audi, Benz and co., everything is in excellent condition.

EV charging stations are almost everywhere and the batteries can also be quickly changed.  However, depending on your mood, the best part is to be driven around while reading a book or chatting. The public transportation system is well connected and perfectly coordinated, even the spoiled Swiss praise us. There is almost no wait and if there were, then there is good relief, because everything proceeds nearly too smoothly.

Only few vehicles still exist and these are less than a quarter of the five million that existed in 2019. The air in the cities is clean. Instead of traffic noise you can hear the birds singing in fruit trees at the curb of single-lane ring roads, which function as shady bikeways, and former parking lots are now green parks. 

On the last mile to the customer, the suppliers distribute their products on freight bikes. Electric trucks supply the urban logistics hubs. Overall, the distance between producer and consumer is shorter nowadays, because local production has been increasing. We move fast, thanks to streetcars, buses, and bicycles. As mentioned, the transportation system goes as far as the periphery, bike sharing systems are everywhere, and many of us walk more often.

The freeways are mainly used for long-distance travel and 80 percent of them are electrified through overhead contact lines, which power electric trucks. Then the trucks drive the remaining distance fueled by ecofriendly synthetic fuels. Almost half of the goods are transported by means of an expanded rail transport system and waterways. Most of us prefer to use the train or an electric bus. In the countryside, cars which are electrically powered are usually used.

Only 43 percent actually own an e-car. It does not longer serve to enhance one’s prestige.  The ‘electric smile’, which appears on your face the first time you drive an e-car, is a common experience. The electric engine’s acceleration mesmerizes everyone. We get our speed rush at events like the Formula E, eSports, and in bike parks. Roaring engines are frowned upon and electric ones are a must-have.

Mobility in 2035 — no longer a necessity, but wellness, fitness, and even entertainment are. The days of traffic jams, searching for parking lots, and train cancellations are over. The number of accidents has decreased by 80 percent. The transport sector achieved its climate goals, advanced the electrification and the energy transition, shut down the last coal-fired power plants, and in place of former brown coal districts, battery factories and research centers were established. The German automotive industry builds almost exclusively e-cars as well as practices mobility services and with that it makes sales worldwide. Transformation is a German word now.

How did all of this happen, what only a few dared to believe in 2019? You will find the prescriptions in this issue of factory. We wish you pleasant reading.

Ralf Bindel and the factory team

More articles on the topic of mobility and transport transition you will find in our correspondent factory-magazine Mobility. This you can download free of costs and it is pleasantly readable on screens and tablet-computers. As every time it is also nicely illustrated and contains all articles in the compact tablet-format plus appropriate numbers and citations. Online in our topics section a few articles are also available – there you can comment and rate them.

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