Innovations for green mobility in rural areas

Mobility in rural areas poses major challenges for public transport: Sparsely populated areas, long distances and limited public transport connections make it difficult to implement sustainable and efficient mobility solutions. But this is precisely where there is enormous potential for innovation. New technologies, creative concepts and the growing awareness of environmental and climate protection offer exciting approaches to making local transport sustainable even beyond urban centres. One promising approach is on-demand transport, which offers customised solutions for rural regions.

Mobile flexibility for rural areas

 

 

 

On-demand transport: flexibility for rural areas

On-demand transport (ODV) refers to flexible mobility services that can be booked via an app or by phone and are customised to the needs of passengers. These services, also known as ride pooling, bundle similar journey requests and use algorithms to create efficient routes. In rural areas in particular, they close gaps in public transport, improve connections to main transport services and reduce dependence on private cars. Using minibuses or cars, they offer a sustainable alternative by sharing journeys and conserving resources.

  

 

 

'MSH-Mobil' project: innovative mobility in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz

Verkehrsgesellschaft Südharz mbH (VGS) positions itself as a modern provider in search of innovative solutions for public transport in rural areas. Since it was founded in 1992, VGS has provided reliable public transport connections for residents and numerous tourists who visit the Mansfeld-Südharz district and the eastern Kyffhäuserkreis in Thuringia every year. The expansion of services is intended in particular to increase the efficiency of public transport and reduce empty journeys by enabling passengers to use the link between modern on-demand transport and traditional scheduled services. With a view to sustainability and an improved environmental footprint, VGS intends to further electrify and digitalise its infrastructure in order to respond flexibly to the needs of its passengers.

The MSH-Mobil project comprises two extensions to the existing network:

  • On-demand-transport: The introduction of comprehensive ODV in the Mansfeld-Südharz district using minibuses and other vehicle types to improve access to sparsely populated regions.
  • Multimodal mobility app: The introduction of an app that enables users to intelligently combine different modes of transport. The app also offers a booking and payment function.

MSH_Mobil

A call bus of the VGS Südharzlinie in operation.

 

Sustainability and efficiency as a goal 

With this project, VGS proves that it is not only customer-orientated, but also adaptable to the rapidly changing mobility market. The holistic mobility concept promotes a reduction in the use of private cars and thus contributes to climate protection. The attractiveness of public transport is increased by automating operational processes and the user experience, resulting in a smooth and time-efficient journey. As a result, collective journeys are made in smaller vehicles, which means that capacities are better utilised and individual traffic is reduced. At the same time, NO2 and CO2 emissions in the Mansfeld-Südharz district will be significantly reduced. The rollout of on-demand transport is set to take place in summer 2025 with the first test journeys before going live after the summer holidays.

Are you interested in innovation projects? 

This exciting flagship project is just one of many that we at EurA have successfully supported with our expertise in acquiring funding. For further information on this and other mobility topics, please contact Dr Viktor Schneider. Contact us for a non-binding initial consultation.

Text: Britta Rückriem
  
Dr Viktor Schneider

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Dr Viktor Schneider

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Thank you for reading! If you would like to learn more about this topic, I look forward to talking to you. I studied physics with a focus on plasma technology and have a PhD in materials science with a focus on nanocomposites. At EurA in Schleswig-Holstein, I have been working as a project and network manager, certified go-Inno advisor and EU funding coordinator since 2017. I am highly motivated to use my knowledge, experience and skills for the successful growth of innovative companies. I lead many projects in the field of electric and automated mobility (air, water, road) and have extensive experience in national and European funding. I have advised many start-ups, medium-sized and large companies on how to realise their innovations. I am also a passionate cross-fitter, even if I'm not quite in top form any more.
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