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German Center for Mobility: A Lighthouse House Stands in Munich

In the midst of the election campaign, CSU Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer is opening his mobility center, which is funded with 500 million euros but still has unclear tasks and organization. At the launch, CSU leader Söder also promises elevated bike paths.

Beautiful new world of mobility: Traffic jam below, air taxi above - and an elevated railway running over it - this is how the BMVI envisions the mobility of the future. | Photo: Screenshot
Beautiful new world of mobility: Traffic jam below, air taxi above - and an elevated railway running over it - this is how the BMVI envisions the mobility of the future. | Photo: Screenshot
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Johannes Reichel

Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU), in the presence of the CSU leader and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, officially opened the so-called "German Center for Future Mobility (DZM)" in Munich. With the DZM, funded with 500 million euros from federal funds, an “internationally outstanding center for mobility research” is to be established, commented the Minister. The goal is to “find answers to the question of how people and goods will move in the future in the context of global trends such as decarbonization, digitalization, and demographic change.”

This consolidates competencies and promotes the exchange between science and industry, “application-oriented, future-oriented, user-oriented, internationally at the cutting-edge level, and visible worldwide: Mobility made in Germany," Scheuer further enthused. Germany must remain what it has always been: the number one mobility nation, proclaimed the Minister. “A lot of highly exciting mobility projects are running in Germany,” Scheuer continued. It’s about trams that transport packages, trains and ships that operate autonomously, airplanes that fly climate-neutrally, outlined the CSU politician further. The introductory trailer also featured numerous flying taxis. 

Nebulous: Unclear Function and Organization

However, the exact nature of the DZM's work remained unclear at the outset. An advisory board around former TU President Wolfgang Hermann is supposed to initially drive the project. Hermann spoke of a networking hub for forward thinkers from all over Germany. The center is intended to bundle several professorships and a practical campus. So far, however, only 20 full-time positions have been approved, according to the BMVI in response to a Bundestag inquiry from Green transportation politician Sven-Christian Kindler. After five years, the headquarters in Munich is expected to grow to a full staff of 93 employees. However, the legal form and location remain unclear. Kindler also criticizes the nebulous plans, calling it an "expensive CSU constituency gift." To date, there is no concrete concept for the DZM. Kindler indirectly accuses Scheuer of irresponsible use of taxpayers' money, as the failures around the car toll have also shown.

Renewable Fuels in Focus

At the launch of the DZM, the industry dialogue "Renewable Fuels" took place, which focused on expanding the production of electricity-based fuels and advanced biofuels in Germany and addressing existing technical, economic, and regulatory challenges in market ramp-up. To achieve climate goals, renewable fuels, in particular, would be needed for shipping and aviation as well as road freight transport, according to the BMVI.

Elevated Bike Paths: Söder Wants to Support Pilot Projects in Munich

During Markus Söder's event, plans for elevated bike paths, to be funded by the state, were also mentioned. "Maybe you can build one or two elevated bike paths in Munich. This way, cyclists could get along without conflicts with cars," Söder explained according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. They are ready for any "innovative mischief" and also want to help with funding. An idea that Mayor Dieter Reiter of the SPD immediately picked up and wants to have proposals developed through his mobility department. The CSU is currently operating from the opposition in Munich against a too-rapid implementation of the Munich bike decision, which envisions a significant expansion of bike paths as well as a corresponding reduction of parking spaces and driving lanes.

What Does That Mean?

When I don't know what to do next, I form a working group—or alternatively, a "German Center for Mobility of the Future." Couldn't it be a bit smaller or more concrete with the soon-to-be-outgoing Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU)? His gigantic 500-million-euro project in Munich certainly has the strong "flavor" of an election gift for his Bavarian homeland, whose purpose is not really clear.

Germany certainly does not lack scientific research and expertise on the subject. But there is a lack of politicians who ensure the timely implementation and realization of all the insights gathered.

On the one hand, it is not only the industry that is researching and developing future mobility—an endeavor that also involves a struggle for competitive advantages—but also numerous scientific institutes and university facilities, making a physical clustering unnecessary. On the other hand, many venture capital firms and startup incubators, some industry- or crowd-funding-supported, ensure that ideas are not only hatched but also brought to market maturity. One can't shake the suspicion that Andi Scheuer has watched too much James Bond and envisions something like the MI6 technology lab of the legendary General Q. This is certainly the impression given by the promotional video in which flying taxis clearly dominate.

 

Translated automatically from German.
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