Practical

An introduction suitable for everyday life: The right electric vehicle for every occasion.

The transition to electric mobility is a process that will not happen overnight. Electric vehicles have advantages in terms of energy efficiency but initially they are also more expensive than cars with combustion engines. Therefore a sensible first step to establishing electric mobility on our streets is to support pioneering projects that focus on vehicle fleets. That is where the lower operating costs can largely compensate the higher initial investment even today. The more that the advantages of electric vehicles become apparent in these areas, the more their acceptance will grow among consumers as well.

Urban delivery services, for example, are very suitable for the use of electric vehicles. For transportation companies or mobile service providers, the purchase of efficient electric vehicles is more likely to pay off because the conditions are particularly favorable here: If the vehicles aren't on the road, they are parked at depots or on private lots, which makes it easy to established a centralized charging infrastructure. Furthermore, the distances travelled daily by urban delivery services are very consistent and even the range of today's electric vehicles is sufficient to cover them easily. The use of diesel-hybrid busses in public transportation is advantageous as well. The recovery of braking energy during the frequent stops does not just amount to 20 percent fuel savings, driving purely on electric power near bus stops also significantly reduces the particulate matter and other pollution, which waiting passengers are exposed to.

Many people primarily use their cars in the city where the shorter range of electric vehicles is irrelevant. The use of electric vehicles also reduces noise and air pollution in densely populated urban areas. Furthermore, it is significantly cheaper to "fill up," which somewhat makes up for the higher purchasing price. Vehicles with range extenders can travel further, making them cars for all occasions. In these vehicles a small combustion engine acts as a generator that charges the battery, if needed, but most trips can be made purely on electric power using renewable energy provided by the power grid. In conjunction with smart charging, electric vehicles also make an effective contribution to the stability of the power grid and to the optimal use of regenerative power. For those who frequently use busses, trains or planes anyway, there is also the option of sharing an electric vehicle with others in the form of car sharing. This allows customers to choose whatever vehicle is most suitable for their current needs – a van or a microcar, for example. New service models like buying "kilometers" or leasing batteries, for example, can also contribute to making electric mobility an economically viable option.