Author(s)

O. Schwedes

Abstract

A popular current topic for urban as well as for transport planning is e-mobility. In the foreseeable future, the electro vehicle will be used mainly for short distances, making it particularly interesting for urban mobility. Therefore, e-mobility seems to be the future path for a sustainable urban and transport development. The contribution challenges this assumption by presenting the results of a recent research project in Berlin. Within this project, the decisionmaking process of establishing the charging infrastructure was analysed. By combining a discourse analysis and a policy study, the proponents for e-mobility, as well as their intentions can be shown. The contribution will further show that particular interests promoting e-mobility do not necessarily coincide with a comprehensive planning strategy presenting a concept leading to sustainable urban and transport development. Keywords: e-mobility, sustainable planning, discourse analysis, policy study, implementation process. 1 Introduction A popular current topic for urban as well as for transport planning is e-mobility. In the foreseeable future, the electro vehicle will be used mainly for short distances making it particularly interesting for urban mobility. Therefore, e-mobility seems to be the future path for a sustainable urban and transport development. From this perspective, planning for e-mobility automatically appears as a sustainable planning strategy. The contribution challenges this assumption by referring to the results of a recent research project in Berlin where the automobile manufacturer Daimler, and the energy provider RWE, in close collaboration with the local political and administrative representatives, started a fleet test with 100 electro Smarts [1].

Keywords

e-mobility, sustainable planning, discourse analysis, policy study, implementation process.