Mobilität
Emission-free vehicles

The city of Hamburg has set a goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045. This applies equally to road traffic. But how can climate neutrality be achieved on the roads? Which technologies have specific advantages or disadvantages, depending on the specific use cases?
  

Electromobility (electric and hydrogen) as an emission-free option 

Battery-electric powertrains currently represent the most widely adopted solution for decarbonizing road traffic in practice. This is because battery-electric vehicles for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles still have an early-stage but certainly secure market outlook in terms of existing vehicle stock, technical reliability, and the range of available vehicle models. Furthermore, they are the comparatively most cost-effective zero-emission propulsion type in terms of operating costs (electricity vs. hydrogen vs. synthetic fuels).  

The market outlook for buses and heavy-duty vehicles, however, remains undecided: When converting city buses and heavy-duty trucks, particularly those with high daily mileage, the use of hydrogen may be practical and economical compared to battery-electric solutions. This, however, depends heavily on local conditions and the application scenario. According to current estimates, the use of hydrogen-based fuels (e-fuels) in road transport is likely to remain the exception due to their current lack of availability and the projected high costs.
  

Hamburg’s Multiple Measures for the Transition to Climate-Friendly Vehicles 

On the path to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, the following measures, among others, have been launched in Hamburg. 

• Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
  To facilitate the transition to climate-neutral powertrains, the City of Hamburg is accelerating the development of charging infrastructure. By 2030, 10,000 publicly accessible charging points for passenger cars and light trucks will be installed (significant expansion of the e-charging infrastructure in the coming years). In addition, exclusive charging stations are available for both car-sharing vehicles and the taxi industry. Starting in early 2025, the use of climate-friendly vehicles will be mandatory to obtain a new taxi license.
• Commercial Vehicles
  The electrification of the vehicle fleet offers companies both economic and environmental benefits. Despite sometimes higher purchase costs, electric vehicles are attractive due to lower operating expenses, tax advantages, and the ability to use renewable energy sources. With clear guidelines, fleet analyses, and a suitable charging infrastructure, the transition can be managed efficiently and with an eye toward the future. In Hamburg, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts act as advisors to their member companies.
• Public buses A comprehensive reduction
  in emissions is also being pursued for the backbone of urban transportation: public transit.  Since 2020, the two municipal transit companies, Hamburger Hochbahn (HOCHBAHN) and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (vhh mobility), have been procuring exclusively electric buses. More than 500 of these vehicles are now on Hamburg’s roads. A complete conversion of the fleets is targeted for 2032.
• Heavy-duty vehicles
  According to estimates by truck manufacturers, by 2030, 65% of new registrations in heavy-duty transport will already be climate-neutral, with the majority being electric. The systematic planning and implementation of charging parks for e-trucks and the expansion of hydrogen refueling stations to the specific 350 bar pressure level for hydrogen refueling of trucks clearly demonstrate that locations such as Hamburg are thoroughly preparing for the transition to new propulsion systems in heavy-duty transport. 
   

Design, support, network

hysolutions supports the measures mentioned here both during the planning phase and as part of their subsequent implementation. The focus here is on designing measures and networking with relevant partners from politics, business, and science who are necessary for successful implementation.