Visions or paradigms are a central element of transport planning and play a significant role in shaping urban transport systems. They are a useful instrument for mobilising different actors, e.g. to bring forward new technologies, such as Electric Vehicles (EVs). Visions are not fixed, but will change over time.[1]

It can be observed that, over recent decades, different transport-related visions have influenced the European transport system. Between the mid 1950s and mid 1970s the "car-oriented city" was the dominant vision of transport planning in most European cities. Between the mid and late 1970s environmental concerns were rising. In the 1980s, a strong (and ever increasing) reliance on technology to solve problems was dominant.[2] In the 1990s, the idea to integrate transport services and systems developed. Since then, the vision of the "sustainable city" has been rising.[3] Today, cities worldwide thrive to achieve "sustainable mobility"; tools are being introduced and increasingly also applied to reach this goal. Most recently, the Electric Vehicle entered the debate.

The electrification of drive technologies raises the question if and how political engagement regarding the promotion of EVs will influence existing transport patterns. Will mode shares and trips remain unchanged when simply replacing the tank by a battery?[4] Or will the new technology help to increase intermodality with its social, environmental and economic benefits? Research programs and likewise scientific debate are primarily focused on the technical and economical feasibility of EVs, not taking into account sufficiently the changeability of mobility patterns and options to integrate EVs into existing schemes of sustainable transport. Mobility behaviour is often regarded as a given, unchangeable fact.[5]

The presentation will give an insight into contrasting approaches of transport planning and analyses current political programs to discuss possible implications they might have for the face of (electric) mobility.

[1] See Hodsons, M.; Marvin, S. (2010): Can cities shape socio-technical transitions and how would we know if they were? In: Research Policy 39 (2010), p. 477-485.

[2] See Giannopoulos, G. A. (2003): Competition versus regulation in transport - the appraisal of past policies and lessons for the future. In: European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) (2003): Fifty years of transport policy - Success, failure and new challenges.

[3] See Bertolini, L.; Le Clercq. F.; Straatemeier, T. (2008): Urban transportation planning in transition. In: Transport Policy 15 (2008), p. 69-72.

[4] Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V. (VCD) (2010): VCD Position Elektromobilität 06/2011 - Online Source: www.vcd.org retrieved: 18.01.2010

[5] Bundesregierung (2009): Nationaler Entwicklungsplan Elektromobilität der Bundesrepublik Deutschland