Alternative drives, networked self-driving cars, electric bikes, emission-free buses and mobility visions of the future: the automotive industry is on the brink of a paradigmatic change. Computer-controlled vehicles can increase speed or brake, avoid traffic jams and substantially reduce the risk of accidents. So is that what cars will be like in the future? How safe are self-driving cars? And what form of transport will win the upper hand? Possibilities range from pay-as-you-travel fares in public transport and efficient car park management to intelligent capture and analysis of traffic flows that predict congestion and suggest alternative routes. If on the move, people can switch to public local and long-distance transport in case of a grid lock. This is both practical and good for the climate. And car-to-car communication can automatically ensure a minimum distance between vehicles.

Mr Hermann, you have declared war on fine dust – how do you want to win it?

Thanks to major efforts in recent years, we have managed to keep within the limit value for fine dust (PM10) in Stuttgart with minor exceptions. The greater problem is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). In 2016, the annual average for the NO2 limit value was exceeded in the case of Stuttgart and around 50 other German cities.
Back in 2015 we already drafted an overall concept for how to permanently remain within the limit values at the latest from 2020 onwards. We started by engaging intensively with subjects like the “ fine dust alarm”. Stuttgart’s air compliance plan now envisages a package of measures to improve air quality. This includes extending and improving local public transport, cycle paths and pedestrian precincts, additional bus lanes, fast tracking bus fleet modernisation, a regional park-and-ride concept, expansion of electric mobility, reducing top speeds on certain roads and optimising car park management. Though our reports also show that complying with limit values will hardly be possible without traf c restrictions. German courts, as proceedings in Düsseldorf and Munich show, also think that traf c restrictions are necessary. We have therefore opted for a solution offering minimum intervention, yet which still achieves sufficient impact. This affects diesel vehicles that fail to meet Euro 6. Traffic bans will only be eliminated once older diesel vehicles are retro fitted to achieve the same effect.
In general, we are seeking alternative mobility options in the long term, so that the necessary traffic restrictions will not reduce our mobility.

Which role will electric mobility play in cities in the future, especially in the heavily burdened Stuttgart region?

Electric cars, taxis, buses, carrier bikes and vans will become commonplace in the urban landscape. The quality of air and life will improve noticeably. We could already use electric cars for daily driving today, as part of the company car fleet or for commuting, for instance. In Baden-Württemberg we hope to have around 200,000 electric and hydrogen cars on the road by 2020.

The government’s aim of putting a million electric cars on the road by 2020 will be virtually impossible to achieve. Why is there still a dearth of electric cars on our roads?

Although electric cars are available that you could use on a daily basis, they are still too expensive. Secondly, marketing, advertising and information must be urgently improved. And more importantly, we need inexpensive leasing offers for the entire car, or at least for the battery, because vehicles are bought to last a decade, but will improve dramatically, especially in terms of range, in the upcoming years. Town councils must grant users more bene ts, when parking and driving, for instance.
Besides subsidies for buying cars and expanding the charger infrastructure, we are also seeking specific solutions with various companies and associations to electrify their vehicle fleets.

Certainly, one thing is missing, and that is an adequate infrastructure. What will be happening in the upcoming years in terms of charger stations?

In the private sector, 90 per cent of vehicles are charged at home and work. So far hardly anything has been done here. Public charger stations increase the choices. After much hesitancy the government has decided to fund the charger infrastructure. However, this won’t be enough. This is why Baden-Württemberg has come up with a supplementary funding scheme for an extensive charger infrastructure. This means that the maximum distance from one charger station to the next must not be more than 10 kilometres.

As we know, cycling is very dear to your heart. Last year, two projects promoting bikes, RadSTRATEGIE (BikeSTRATEGY) and RadNETZ (bikeNETWORK) were approved as a further step towards sustainable mobility. What has happened in the meantime?

The coalition agreement says: “We are going to make Baden-Württemberg more bicycle-friendly.” Our RadSTRATEGIE is going to be gradually implemented in eight areas; from infrastructure development and signposting to taking bicycles on public transport and bike tourism.
The regional RadNETZ will create 7,000 km of safe, well-signposted and well-surfaced routes all over the region. On this one, we are particularly reliant on the good of ces of districts, towns and communities, because around 80 per cent of the bicycle traffic infrastructure is the responsibility of local town councils. We support town councils with planning and provide financial aid to help them build the bicycle infrastructure. In addition, many gaps in the network along B and A roads will be closed systematically.

As a keen cyclist you have several bicycles, including an electric bike. Can electric bikes be integrated into local transport, and what needs to be done in this area?

Electric bikes can play an important role in getting people to public transport. For this, though, we need secure and practical parking facilities at stops and stations. We are currently working on a Bike+Ride concept. It is designed to help communities and linked transport systems to plan and implement facilities at stops. The region promotes this expansion. Furthermore, all regional trains now carry bikes, pedelecs and electric bikes free of charge outside the morning rush hours; and the new local trains also envisage more space for them.

How can car drivers be persuaded to switch to pedal power?

We need a good infrastructure and supportive communication. We are also now starting to plan fast bike connections. On most fast bike lanes without junctions or which take precedence, longer distances can often be covered faster with a bike than with a car. The Netherlands, Denmark and London have done it already.
The message conveyed by our Rad-KULTUR (Bike CULTURE) initiative is that cycling is great fun – by using the town bike hire system. And we are also celebrating the bicycle’s 200th anniversary in 2017. The bicycle was invented in Mannheim by Karl Drais in 1817 and has been conquering the world ever since.

What about nishing with a forecast: What will mobility be like in metropolises in 2040?

Since we are in the midst of a massive transformation, no forecast can be certain. However, we are already setting our course to pave the way for more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable forms of mobility. Other possibilities include car-free parts of the city, lots of room for prams and walking aids, carrier bikes, relaxed speeds and very little traf c noise, using autonomous vehicles exibly and in times of high usage switching to mostly local public transport especially on the outskirts of metropolises. And we are all waiting with bat- ed breath to see how goods and deliveries will be moved by as yet undreamt-of means of transport in a climate-friendly manner, whether in small or bulk loads, digitally aided, over- or underground. Mobility in 2040 should convey this message: going green is worth it because it makes cities places where you enjoy spending time and feel at ease.