Around 700 participants came to the Rotes Rathaus on July 3 to find out about and discuss topics relating to developments in electromobility and sustainable mobility solutions.
Franziska Giffey, Berlin's Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, emphasized at the opening that the topic of electromobility has gained momentum in Berlin. The charging infrastructure in the city has been expanded. There are already around 28,000 charging points, 4200 of which are publicly accessible.
In addition to exciting presentations and discussions on the overall strategy for the charging infrastructure, sustainable mobility in neighborhoods and the potential of electric commercial vehicles, an exhibition with around 25 exhibitors, who are partners of the Berlin Agency for Electromobility (eMO), offered opportunities for exchange.
Beatrix Keim, Center for Automotive Research, reported that China's leading role in the production of electric cars is based on massive state subsidies. Sales of electric cars have been declining in Germany since the scrapping of the environmental bonus. Not only the shorter ranges, but also the higher prices are not conducive to acceptance, and consumers are opting for combustion engines. Under the current conditions, the target of 15 million registered electric cars by 2030 cannot be achieved without state subsidies.
In the following panel discussion on the expansion of the charging infrastructure, not only the positive incentives provided by the WELMO (Wirtschaftsnahe Elektromobilität) funding program for companies were discussed, but also the fact that the charging infrastructure can be a source of income for the city of Berlin. However, not only the technical requirements are needed to expand the charging infrastructure, but also amendments to real estate laws and parking space regulations, for example to allow charging in underground parking garages or conversions to existing parking spaces.
The Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment in Berlin, Ute Bonde, calls for a rethink of mobility. People should use the well-developed public transport system. Car sharing for electric cars or rental bicycles are an addition. Charging points no more than 400 meters apart should make electromobility more attractive.
Gasag will replace all fossil combustion engines with alternative drives by 2025. The cars are already electrically powered today, as Catharina Krautz, Fleet Manager Gasag Group, reported. According to Kerstin Niemeier, Stromnetze Berlin, the capacity of the electricity grid will have to be doubled in the next ten years due to the increasing demand for electricity, not only for the provision of heat, but also for the electrification of transportation.
The capital city conference organized by the Berlin Agency for Electromobility eMO provided a good overview and showed how many measures need to be planned and implemented in order to electrify urban transport.
