The initial situation
What does the current climate discussion and the change in mobility mean for cities and districts?
Climate change, new drive technologies, “sharing instead of owning”, digitalisation, autonomous driving: What does the future of mobility look like and what does it mean for cities and districts? Municipalities are actors in the mobility sector in many ways: as public transport and road infrastructure authorities, they can help shape the change in mobility behaviour, and with their planning sovereignty they can intervene in the mobility process in a regulatory way. However, change is also taking place outside the direct sphere of influence of municipalities. New technologies and new participants are entering the market, and the question arises as to what extent this will result in new demands on local authorities.
Public transport, cycling and digital ridesharing are key to the climate change in transport.
The concrete task
Scenarios for the development of transport in Ulm and the Alb-Donau district
Our solution
Concrete modelling of the achievable effects on traffic development in Ulm and the Alb-Donau district in three scenarios
Autonomous driving, especially of passenger cars, is currently one of the most exciting trends in the transport sector. In the meantime, corresponding tests are being carried out worldwide. The prerequisite is a high level of digital infrastructure. However, it cannot be assumed that this will be available everywhere in the near future. The distribution of automation technology between infrastructure and vehicle sensors has also not yet been finally clarified. Additional demands on local authorities appear when infrastructure must/should provide part of the information (about location, condition, utilisation).
Electromobility is an essential component of the federal government’s plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Electromobility is generally understood to mean the use of battery-electric vehicles. However, electric drives can also receive energy from other sources such as fuel cells or an overhead line.
Benefits of the results
Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions in Ulm and the Alb-Donau district will decrease significantly by 2030 due to technology. Without public intervention, however, the climate targets of the German government would be missed by a long way.
Project data and contact persons
Title
Mobility of the Future in the Alb-Donau District and the City of Ulm
Client
District Office Alb-Donau-Kreis and City of Ulm
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Auditing Company (PwC)
Processing period
March-November 2019