dmt Arena in Hannover: Practice counts!

Despite COVID-19, around 150 visitors found their way to the event, where they could examine, learn about, and try out technologies and products. At the same time, six lectures took place in the Niedersachsenhalle from 1 PM and two panel discussions from 6 PM. The program on stage was live-streamed on the DMT YouTube channel, where all lectures and discussions are still accessible.

Parallel to the lecture program, there was an exhibition and a test drive program: The spectrum of technologies and vehicles shown ranged from the eRockit, the wild mix of light motorcycle and bicycle, to a converted VW T6 transporter. It was clear that the new Volkswagen ID.3 could not be missed in Lower Saxony, and it was brought by the Volkswagen dealership in Hanover. VW sales consultant Michael Eickmeier was pleased:

“The test drives are being very well received. I find the event today very professional in what is being shown and done here.”

In contrast, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, based on fuel cell technology, were also available to drive and were contributed by Autohaus Ahrens. The hydrogen vehicles were available for test drives and sparked interest and excitement among many visitors, especially since they are still rare on public roads.

New mobility must be experienced in practice

In Niedersachsenhalle, the lectures were accompanied by information booths from partners of the DMT Arena, where additional information could be obtained, such as at the booth of hannoverImpuls, the joint economic development agency of the capital city and the Hanover region. “New mobility alternatives – especially drive and vehicle concepts – must be experienced. You want to exchange new ideas. And from conversations, networks develop. For this, we need real events like this today and in the future,” explained Gernot Hagemann, project manager for sector development at hannoverImpuls. And he added:

“We see that electromobility is experiencing exponential growth. However, the overall market is still underdeveloped. An event like this, which offers a comprehensive overview, must be continued.”

Exciting panel discussions about city centers, rural areas, and commuter flows

The two panel discussions on the topics "E-Mobility on the Rise" and "Who Owns the City? – Are We Forgetting the Rural Areas?" were eagerly anticipated. While the first discussion mainly focused on the development of battery electric mobility, the second discussion revolved around how to make city centers more livable, manage commuter flows more effectively, and better connect rural areas to the cities. Heinz-Jürgen Weber, mayor of the municipality of Steyerberg in Lower Saxony, lamented that rural areas are forgotten and that communities have to come up with their own solutions: “With us, a bus runs once an hour, and it stops at 8 PM in the evening.” Swantje Michaelsen, regional representative of the Greens and management at ADFC, agreed:

“We need to address the infrastructure to be able to switch to bicycles or public transport.”

But it was also about the question of whether and when public transport would recover from the Corona shock and how it could be made infection-proof. The exciting panel discussion on e-mobility was dominated by the debate over whether battery-electric or fuel cell technology is the technology of the future in cars. While Oliver Braune from NOW pointed out that a lot had happened in terms of hydrogen infrastructure, Markus Emmert, Chairman of BEM, countered that the fuel cell in passenger cars has no future and referred to the enormous costs of a hydrogen filling station and the long breaks between filling processes.His wish for the future was nevertheless clear:

"We have to dare to embrace electric car technology."

The stream can also be viewed live at:

https://youtu.be/9DsVY5ATTsk

What does that mean?

The dmt Arena made it very clear: The mobility transition is most likely and best achieved when you show people in practice and invite them to discussions about it - because even or despite Corona, the following applies: Theory is good, but practice is always better.