Hamburg to shift car-sharing services to 80% electric in 15 months

The deal is a cooperation agreement between local public transport and representatives of the private sector

Yesterday, Hamburg authorities announced the city’s public rail operator Hamburger Hochbahn AG signed a strategic partnership with local car-sharing providers. The two sides agreed to increase the share of electric vehicles provided by the companies to 80% in a little over a year if Hamburger Hochbahn can provide the necessary charging stations.

Furthermore, the city has said that by the end of the year it plans to set up 120 charging points at Hamburg Airport, exclusively for these car-sharing companies, who are considered partners to local public transport. In turn, the charging stations will be free to use for the cars owned by the companies.

Linking public mobility with private providers 

The companies MILES, SHARE NOW, SIXT and WESHARE have all agreed to adopt the new quotas for electric vehicles set for 1 January 2024. However, the quotas are dependent on whether Hamburger Hochbahn can provide an additional 600 charging stations in the city.

According to a statement by the city, if the public transport company fails to provide charging stations, the quota for electric vehicles will be proportionally lowered. For example: if the city installs 450 charging stations by 1 January 2024, the electric vehicle quota will be lowered by 5%.

Also, the maximum parking at charging stations time will be increased from two hours to three while parking without charging will no longer be permitted.

Anjes Tjarks, Hamburg’s Senator for Transport and Mobility Transition, was quoted in a press statement, explaining that the city has a strong bid to decarbonize other forms of public transport like buses and trains by 2030. However, she considers dealing with the private market in ride-sharing a big win. She also pointed out that this substantial transition is supposed to happen in only 15 months.

After 2024, city officials claim that the partners want to continue working together towards shifting all of their fleets towards zero-emissions variants. This is why they have expressed a desire to meet twice a year and discuss further goals.