Getting your money’s worth: E-mobility is a key driver for German green cities

Transportation plays a central role to the issue of CO2 emissions, where electromobility (e-mobility) is considered one of the most important technologies for future sustainable mobility. With the Bavarian vehicle industry and Danish electrification solutions in play, e-mobility stands to make big technological leaps in Germany.

Moving people as well as cargo around in a sustainable way is a key challenge in many cities. However, with the right investments and pooling of expertise, the world could soon experience revolutionising technologies.

The Federal Government of Germany has to date invested more than EUR 1.5 billion in electric mobility development. Meanwhile, the automotive industry in Germany has invested more than EUR 17 billion in electric vehicle development.

To complement the strong vehicle industry in Germany – and particularly Bavaria – it is natural to look towards countries with expertise in electrification. Making efficient electric cars without the means to power them with green energy is only getting the job half done. Cashing in on the investments requires green power solutions on a large scale for e-mobility.

The flexibility potential of electric vehicles

When it comes to electrification of the transport sector, many countries look to Denmark for inspiration. Today, wind power accounts for almost 50 per cent of the Danish power generation. Therefore, Denmark has a strong focus on enhancing flexibility on the demand-side of electricity.

Electrical vehicles can play a key role in providing flexibility to an electricity system based on renewable energy, since charging of electrical vehicles can be moved outside of peak hours, without reducing the comfort of the consumer. This has several socio-economic benefits due to a cheaper electricity production and energy savings for the end consumer.

Denmark is also investing heavily in developing Power-to-X solutions, which could revolutionise the impact of electrification on the transport sector as a whole. This is driven by the Danish goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. Electrification is a cornerstone in achieving this goal, which is why Denmark focuses on integrating electrification in almost all parts of society and industry, leading to several Danish companies specialising in electrification solutions.

City authorities need to look at the entire value chain

The future of the e-mobility industry entails several market challenges. The supply and value chain represents components such as battery technology, infrastructural improvements, charging and electricity grids as well as circular business models.

E-mobility calls upon a cross-sectional industry approach, which involves new actors and modes of cooperation. As such, it is imperative to move away from the existing automotive model towards a more inclusive approach, which integrates all areas of the supply chain. Consequently, municipal authorities and local business owners need to look at the entire value chain.

Get involved through the Access Cities programme

The Access Cities programme follows the transition towards e-mobility and more sustainable mobility in Munich and Bavaria closely. The programme continuously looks for solutions to the challenges posed by the electrification of the transport sector. If you want to know more about how the programme can help your city’s e-mobility challenges, please get in touch with the Access Cities representative in Munich.