Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in Berlin hosted Member States Meeting of the European Research Partnership 2Zero
Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in Berlin hosted Member States Meeting of the European Research Partnership 2Zero
Germany’s economy is striving for electric and hydrogen mobility
BERLIN – 12th OCTOBER 2022.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in Germany (BDMV) hosted the second meeting of the 2Zero States Representative Group in Berlin. The discussion focused on future strategies for electric and hydrogen research for road transport applications and recharging infrastructure in Europe. 2Zero is Horizon Europe’s co-programmed partnership on zero emission road transport involving the European Commission and stakeholders’ associations to enable lasting collaboration on electric and hydrogen road mobility research. This partnership represents all stakeholders relevant for the transformation of road transport towards climate neutrality.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Transport Ministries of European Member States, the three Directorates General of the European Commission Research and Innovation, Mobility and Transport and Climate Action as well as by the board of 2Zero.
Stephan Neugebauer (BMW), co-chair of 2Zero, together with Philippe Froissard from the European Commission, Directorate General for Research and Innovation, opened the meeting and emphasized that Europe is still a leader in the mobility market and that Europe has the innovative strength to strengthen this position during the global transformation of mobility towards climate neutrality.
“There are not many other areas where Europe is still in a pole position. We therefore need to be prudent and proactive in driving transformation, paying close attention to where we invest to enable competitive research. Today’s decisions will influence competitiveness for decades to come.”, Neugebauer made clear.
Professor Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, director general in the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, Germany, underlined that diversity in innovation and technologies, and diversity and a clever mix of targeted measures help Germany combat climate change and decarbonise its transport sector for the higher benefit of future generations. The Federal Government is currently working on a comprehensive intersectoral “Climate Emergency Program”. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport has established an Advisory Board for Climate Protection in Mobility (EKM). Under the German G7 presidency two important declarations on climate action were issued this year and a Climate Club was established.
Professor Dr. Bonhoff underlined that Germany is ready to contribute in a major way to Europe becoming the first climate neutral continent in the world, leading the way in the transition to an electric- and hydrogen-based European economy: “We live up to our responsibility by jointly developing and implementing integrated approaches to mobility. Hydrogen and electric mobility are all part of a much bigger energy transition picture. Its development and deployment strategies should not be pursued in isolation. Much effort needs to be directed into designing a sustainable ecosystem that incorporates both energy and transport as well as digitalization”, Bonhoff said.
More than 65000 electric and 100 hydrogen refueling stations are already in place or under construction in Germany. To ensure that a fast-charging station can be reached anywhere in Germany within 10 minutes, the Federal Government’s Germany Network envisages the installation of 1000 fast charging hubs from 2023, Dr. Bonhoff explained. “2Zero is the key to create cross-border research, multi-stakeholder connections and to support the development of an European hydrogen and electric mobility market and the corresponding supply chains”, he said.
Other Member States showed the same level of dedication and presented their national strategies for fueling infrastructures, electric and hydrogen mobility and shared their experiences on the most important stepping stones so far. All attendees of the SRG Meeting agreed upon the importance of 2Zero partnership projects for a successful transition towards climate neutral road transport which is embedded as an intrinsic part into a sustainable and resilient mobility ecosystem.
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