Climate-friendly mobility must not exclude anyone: this is being called for by the “Bündnis sozialverträgliche Mobilitätswende (coalition for socially-responsible mobility), a consortium of unions, churches, social and environmental associations. Co-initiator Verena Bentele, President of the VdK social association, and Klaus Zellmer, Member of the Board of Management at Volkswagen responsible for sales, discuss e-mobility, public transport and subscription models for cars. With more than two million members, the VdK is the largest social association in Germany.
Ms Bentele, you are calling for climate-friendly mobility for all. Where do you see problems?
Bentele: Many of our members live in rural areas and are reliant on cars. They cannot get to the doctor, go shopping or visit relatives by public transport. They cannot afford a new electric car. For this reason, we need climate-friendly, affordable alternatives.
Mr Zellmer, can you understand these concerns?
Zellmer: Of course. We at Volkswagen understand very well that mobility is a basic need. Ever since the Beetle, our company has been committed to making mobility available to the masses. We are working hard to make e-mobility affordable for everyone. With the ID. LIFE, we have shown what an electric car in the compact segment looks like. The starting price will be around € 20,000.
Is owning a car becoming obsolete?
Zellmer: I don’t think so – but owning a car is becoming less important, particularly among some younger people. The Netflix generation wants to be more flexible – but still have exclusive use of mobility for a certain period. Which is why, with our new subscription model, we are offering e-cars at a monthly rate, which covers all costs except electricity. The car subscription is a start. In the future, we will offer even more flexible mobility: by the hour, day, month – or long-term, through leasing or purchasing.
What do you expect from politicians with regard to the mobility revolution?
Bentele: Public transport in rural areas must be greatly improved. This includes accessibility. For example: many wheelchair users do not take the train, because the step from the platform to the train means they have huge problems getting on and off trains. If we change that, people with reduced mobility can travel independently and in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Public transport in rural areas must be greatly improved. This includes accessibility.
An important task is a rapid energy revolution, making it possible to charge the increasing number of electric cars with clean electricity.
How does traffic in cities need to change?
Bentele: I think that restricting the number of cars and making inner cities better suited to the needs of people is the right thing to do. Major European cities like Paris and Copenhagen, as well as German cities, have already gone down this road. We should give pedestrians and cyclists more space – that is the best way to protect the climate. When it comes to public transport, most big cities are in a really good position. In smaller cities, we desperately need to invest more in local public transport.
How do you envisage your ideal mobility in the long term?
Bentele: I hope that I will find well-developed local transport everywhere in the future. At some point I would like to use autonomous cars for individual journeys – electric and climate-friendly. As a blind user, I wouldn’t be dependent on people who can see. For example, I am thinking about when I visit my parents in the countryside at Lake Constance. In rural areas like this, there still won’t be an underground in 20 years’ time. It is first and foremost about making mobility accessible and affordable for everyone.
It is first and foremost about making mobility accessible and affordable for everyone.
