Mobility is a basic human need and a key enabler of social inclusion and quality of life, while logistics is essential for prosperity and security of supply. But the mobility system is no more immune to change than any other aspect of our society. Environmental and climate policy goals, changes in our lifestyles and in the workplace and demographic trends are all giving rise to new requirements for technological mobility solutions. At the same time, more intelligent mobility solutions are being enabled by technological developments such as digital connectivity, electrification and automation. But the general public will only buy into these solutions if they are precisely tailored to its needs and can demonstrate their suitability for everyday use. Only then can the transition to more sustainable mobility succeed.
Mobility Monitor 2024: how are mobility behaviours and attitudes in Germany changing?
The annual Mobility Monitor survey investigates the mobility behaviours of people in Germany and charts how mobility behaviours and attitudes change over time. The 2024 edition* found that the German public still regards tackling climate change as an important issue. However, at the time of the survey, fewer people than in previous years believed that measures in the energy and mobility sectors can help to reduce climate impacts. Two thirds of respondents (62 percent) thought that strengthening public transport is the best way of reducing emissions in the transport sector.
People in Germany want the transport infrastructure in general to be improved and modernised. The rail network is a particular cause for concern: 65 percent think it is in poor or very poor condition, twice as many as in 2015. Motorways, on the other hand, get a much better rating, with just 28 percent of people deeming them to be in poor or very poor condition. However, this figure rises to 41 percent for the local road network.
The car was once again the most widely used means of transport in Germany. 76 percent of car drivers use their car every day or several times a week – exactly the same percentage as in 2020. So it is no surprise that over three quarters of them (78 percent) say they couldn’t do without their car.
The study reveals that people still have their doubts about electric mobility. Just 17 percent of respondents would consider buying an electric car. This is the lowest figure yet, down from 24 percent in the first Mobility Monitor survey in 2020. There was little change in terms of people’s reservations about electric mobility. 60 percent of those interviewed said the range of electric cars is too limited, the same number as in 2022. And a similar percentage in both years said they weren’t convinced that electric cars are really environmentally-friendlier.
The 2024 Mobility Monitor survey clearly shows that many people in Germany could still be better informed about electric mobility. Almost half the people in the survey said they weren’t sure how long it takes to charge an electric car. And it would seem that the public is also oblivious to advances in charging infrastructure and range. We urgently need to ramp up our joint efforts to provide the public with the information they need to form well-founded opinions.
Thomas Weber, acatech President
ReMIX: responsible urban mobility that fits with people’s lifestyles
Technological innovations such as digital data spaces, networked infrastructures and autonomous systems are enabling new, practical mobility solutions. But they cannot fulfil their full potential without the right conditions. These include things like the regulatory framework, organisational structures and an active social dialogue. Launched in 2024, the ReMIX project is investigating how to create responsible data-based innovations and integrate them into urban environments in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner. The project is taking an interdisciplinary approach in order to successfully address the regulatory, organisational and policy requirements of the mobility transition. To this end, the project work is informed by input from municipal administrations, companies and civil society actors in the MCube Cluster. The aim is to overcome the technological and social challenges, identify and address conflicts and ethical dilemmas from an early stage, and demonstrate new forms of governance and experimentation.
The ReMIX consortium project brings together the expertise of the Professor of Innovation Research (Sebastian Pfotenhauer) and Professor of Environmental and Climate Policy (Miranda Schreurs) at the Technical University of Munich, the Mobility Department of the City of Munich, and acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering. ReMIX is one of the nine projects in the second funding phase of the Munich mobility cluster MCube. The cluster aims to make the Munich metropolitan region a global pioneer of sustainable, transformational mobility innovations.
Innovationsplattform Bayern: Bavaria aims to become a key enabling technology pioneer
Since the end of 2024, the Innovationsplattform Bayern* has been advising the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs on the key innovation policy issues for research and business in Bavaria. The network formulates recommendations that draw on the expertise of prominent companies, research institutions, start-ups and associations. The project focuses on identifying the innovations and technologies that will set the agenda in years to come and the areas they can be used in.
Through targeted strengthening of the new space sector, Bavaria can become a global pioneer in the development of key enabling technologies, benefiting the entire regional economy.
Jan Wörner, acatech President and Chairman of the Steering Committee
The first topic to be addressed by the platform is the space sector, understood in a broader sense than space engineering per se. The project is focused on the new space sector, exploring the potential benefits for the Bavarian economy of closer collaboration between traditional industries such as the automotive and energy sectors. Infrastructure in space can benefit almost every area of our lives and help to tackle global challenges, from climate change and energy to public health. If an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral approach is taken to its implementation, it can be used to optimise agriculture, enable autonomous driving and support environmental protection and disaster prevention. The Innovationsplattform Bayern is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
* Content only available in German