E-cars and company bicycles: the mayors are also switching - "leading by example"

Created: 05/26/2022, 06:04

By: Dominik Stallein

Electric speedster for Egling: Mayor Hubert Oberhauser (2nd from left) put an electric KIA into operation at the beginning of 2016.

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E-mobility plays a role in many municipalities in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.

Even the heads of town hall are on the road with electric speedsters.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – electric cars are trendy.

But what about the vehicle fleets of the cities and municipalities?

Of the four cars available for employees in the city of Geretsried, the only electric car is the most popular.

Mayor Michael Müller himself drives an Audi hybrid for external appointments.

E-cars and company bicycles: the mayors are also switching - "leading by example"

"We are setting a good example," says spokesman Thomas Loibl.

When new cars are leased in the largest city in the district, "sustainability is always included as a criterion".

In other words: "Where possible, we switch to other models." According to Loibl, this is primarily possible with normal vehicles, "with special vehicles - for example for the fire brigade or the building yard - it is more difficult".

The city currently has 14 charging stations, plus four from the public utility company, so that the changeover is smooth for both the community and private drivers.

"We want to keep the possibilities for a traffic turnaround available," says Loibl.

Bad Tölz: No company car but an e-bike for the mayor

In Bad Tölz, Mayor Ingo Mehner is already living it out: The city does not maintain a company car for its mayor, but a bicycle with an electric motor.

"With this he takes appointments in and around Bad Tölz, but also within the district," said City Hall spokeswoman Birte Otterbach.

Mehner recently cycled to a meeting in Wolfratshausen, for example.

There is also a company bike and five cars for the employees, one of which has an electric drive.

This can be used for messenger trips and smaller transports - but it doesn't have to be: "We have noticed that many employees often turn down the offer to use a city car for shorter business trips and instead use private bicycles."

Bad Heilbrunn: Four e-bikes and Thomas Gründl's electric car

The employees of the municipality of Bad Heilbrunn don't just let the wind blow in their faces on their private bikes: four e-bikes are available as company bikes, as Mayor Thomas Gründl explains.

He himself drives a BMW I3s with an electric drive for work.

In principle, sustainability would play a role in new cars for the municipal fleet.

This is one of the reasons why “two more are being planned” in addition to the two existing charging stations at the town hall.

Eurasburg: The town hall has three e-charging stations, but no e-cars of its own

The municipality of Eurasburg operates three charging stations for e-vehicles.

However, vehicles from our own fleet cannot yet be connected there: "We do not yet have any electric cars," explains Managing Director Günther Eidenschink.

The community's fleet is manageable anyway, Mayor Moritz Sappl drives to appointments in his private car.

"We only have our own vehicles for the fire brigade and the building yard, as well as a VW bus for the school." They are all older models, at the time of purchase "e-mobility was not yet an issue".

Converting the fleet is not yet under discussion: "It would not be sustainable to exchange cars that are still doing their job." If that changes, "we will certainly think about electric vehicles where possible".

Even without electric vehicles, some employees of the Eurasburg town hall pay attention to their CO2 footprint on duty: "Many of us come to work by bike and also use it to go to on-site visits," says Eidenschink.

He does this regularly himself, and not just for reasons of environmental protection: "It's just nice - before and after work."

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Egling: Car sharing in the town hall - E-KIA in the fleet

Car sharing is becoming increasingly popular in many cities.

This model is also progressing in the municipality of Egling.

Here, members of the municipal council and the mayor share a car that employees from the administration, school, day care center or building yard can also drive: An electric vehicle from the KIA brand has been available for about six years, as City Hall Managing Director Daniela Simon reports.

“Sustainability is always an issue.” That is why a company bicycle is also being considered.

However, e-car purchases are often not that easy because, on the one hand, legal requirements have to be observed in procurement procedures.

"Furthermore, not all commercial and fire-fighting vehicles are equipped with electric motors."

Wolfratshausen: The fleet will be completely electric - or at least muscle-powered

The town hall vehicle fleet in Wolfratshausen will soon be almost completely electric: One of the five cars is already an electric vehicle, an electric vehicle has already been ordered as a replacement for two vehicles, and a third will be exchanged at the end of the year.

"Sustainability and climate protection are very important criteria for our selection of vehicles," emphasizes Managing Director Kirsten Vogler.

That's why there are also some bicycles - both classic and e-bikes - for the employees.