E-mobility in the municipal vehicle fleet
City administration focuses increasingly on electromobility
The municipal vehicle fleet comprises a total of 45 electric vehicles, seven hybrid vehicles, and numerous pedelecs. Additional vehicles are currently being procured. The administration has already raised and invested around two million euros in subsidies for electric mobility measures.
The gradual electrification of the municipal vehicle fleet is progressing, as can also be seen in the Parks and Environment Department. Sixteen electric vehicles, including 11 vans, are available to employees for business trips. In addition to the Parks and Environment Department, the waste disposal company also has a further 13 electric vehicles, including two electrically powered sidewalk sweepers. The main office, the registry office, the legal and public order office, the Peter Cornelius Conservatory, the traffic monitoring office, and the municipal data center also maintain corresponding vehicles. [As of September 2021]
The selected measure in the waste management company and the Green and Environmental Agency
The Parks and Environment Department seized the opportunity. In addition to funding the concept phase of the master plan process, master plan municipalities had the exclusive opportunity to receive funding for the initial implementation of measures. The objective of the Federal Environment Ministry's investment funding is to strengthen exemplary climate protection projects in the form of flagship projects. These are intended to encourage imitation and contribute to the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
On the path to achieving extensive climate neutrality in the city of Mainz, the city's waste disposal company and the Parks and Environment Department are setting a good example and paving the way for a climate-friendly urban vehicle fleet. The aim of the project is to replace existing commercial vehicles with purely electric vehicles.
Following a successful application, around €175,000 in funding is now available for an e-mobility project in the municipal vehicle fleet. The 50 percent investment cost subsidy significantly reduces the financing gap in the commercial vehicle sector and has made it possible to launch a pilot project.
New electric vehicles
In May 2021, the waste disposal company was able to put two fully electric convoy vehicles into service. The decisive factor in choosing this type of vehicle was that it meets the criteria of the funding agency and that the waste disposal company's approximately 28 convoy vehicles mainly operate in the city center. The Parks and Environment Department also hopes to benefit from the practical knowledge and experience gained from operating fully electric trucks for its own fleet. After all, these are the most common work vehicles in the municipal sector, alongside various passenger cars.
In order to take another decisive step forward with its own commercial vehicles, in addition to the extensive changes in the area of passenger service vehicles, the Parks and Environment Department is replacing three more panel vans with purely electric vehicles. The vehicles have been in use since March 2020 in the areas of park maintenance and the municipal building yard.
Until mid-2021, the city will receive extensive funding from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
National Climate Protection Initiative
With the National Climate Protection Initiative, the Federal Environment Ministry has been initiating and promoting numerous projects since 2008 that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its programs and projects cover a broad spectrum of climate protection initiatives: from the development of long-term strategies to concrete assistance and investment support measures. This diversity guarantees good ideas. The National Climate Protection Initiative helps to anchor climate protection locally. Consumers, companies, municipalities, and educational institutions all benefit from it.
