“Berlin’s economy - sustainably mobile”: this was the motto of the 2022 capital city electromobility conference, organised by the Berlin mobility sector of Berlin Partner agency eMO.

More than 600 participants registered to attend in person at the town hall or view the live stream. The programme featured 23 speakers and panellists with seminars, keynotes, panel discussions, future scenarios, PechaKuchas and one-minute pitches.

Stephan Schwarz, Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises: “Berlin is currently in the midst of a transformation process. It’s therefore important to keep sight of the various requirements to ensure that mobility is efficient, climate-neutral and sustainable. We are seeing clear developments in terms of electromobility in our city, but we also know that this needs to happen more quickly and effectively. The capital offers a key advantage here. Berlin-Brandenburg is increasingly becoming an industrial hub for electromobility. More and more businesses are moving here, from start-ups to global corporations, and from research to assembly. The necessary innovations are happening here and there are direct channels and interlinking production chains. This is also a development that we can specifically drive further.

In Berlin and Brandenburg, the number of electric vehicles is increasing: according to current figures (1/4/2022) by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), Berlin already has 37,363 electric cars and Brandenburg has 25,912 electric cars in operation. More than one in five newly approved cars in Berlin is electric. Commercial use is therefore also gaining in importance. Of the electric cars in Berlin, 57.5% of vehicles (21,484) are used for commercial purposes, while 42.5% (15,860) are for private use.

In terms of electromobility in urban areas, commercial transport plays a key role. In order to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to convert to electric vehicles, the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises launched the incentive scheme “Wirtschaftsnahe Elektromobilität” (WELMO). The scheme is primarily intended to promote small and lightweight vehicles, commercial vehicles and charging infrastructure.