In 1886, Carl Benz officially patented his “motorized carriage”. And in 2011, the German state of Baden- Württemberg will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of this momentous occasion. The state tourism board and finance ministry will be launching “Automobile Summer 2011”, featuring a variety of events throughout Baden-Württemberg over a symbolic period of 125 days. The Steinbeis Consulting Center for Innovation and Energy in Trossingen was one of 10 winners in a contest to come up with project ideas for the Automobile Summer.
Entitled “Future mobility in the Black Forest holiday region”, the award-winning project is also known as ZUMO, from the German word Zukunftsmobilitat or “future mobility”. Borne out of a partnership between the Steinbeis Consulting Center for Innovation and Energy, the Black Forest Tourism Board and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Black Forest-Baar-Heuberg region, the project was one of 10 winners out of over 200 submissions. ZUMO examines the complete “mobility chain” of the Black Forest as a tourist destination, showing how this can be made as environmentally friendly as possible. The aim: to ensure holidaymakers in the Black Forest have unlimited mobility to enjoy leisure activities, while doing as much as possible to protect the environment.
So here in Germany, the cradle of the automobile, the project team decided to take a fresh look at the issue of mobility from the angle of tourism. “As the birthplace of the Hotzenblitz electric car, and the region where the world’s first car race was held, the Black Forest is the ideal place to set a bold new example when it comes to mobility,” explains Christian Klaiber, head of the Steinbeis Consulting Center.
To turn the project into reality, the project partners will develop holiday packages with eco-friendly guest arrivals, accommodation, local transport and leisure activities. Available during the Automobile Summer, these packages balance car travel with eco-friendly alternatives, resulting in a positive net effect on the environment, thus leaving holidaymakers with a clear conscience. Since May, applications have been open to regions and communities in the Black Forest to become model partners in the project. Combining forward-looking modes of transport with new and existing tourist services sets a vital precedent, both for the Black Forest tourism region and the state. What makes this project so remarkable is the novel combination of environmental issues with automobile use, reflecting the Black Forest region’s successful marriage of innovation and tradition.
Next summer, visitors to the Black Forest will be able to choose from a futuristic fleet of innovative electric vehicles throughout their stay: from cars and motorbikes to scooters, bikes and even Segways. Then there’s always public transport, of course. The packages are rounded off with eco-friendly leisure activities, such as a Black Forest electric bike rally, or an electric car convoy along the scenic Black Forest mountain route. Going by the slogan “Mobility without a car”, holiday packages will highlight alternatives modes of transport – including activities such as guided walks, bicycle tours and hiking in the Black Forest.
As part of “Automobile Summer 2011”, the “Future mobility” pilot scheme aims to develop lasting new mobility concepts in the Black Forest tourist region and economic area. After next summer, the project partners plan to broaden the scheme by expanding the mobility concept (for tourists) while continuing to invest in infrastructure. This way, both holidaymakers and local residents can benefit from a lasting, comprehensive ecofriendly mobility concept throughout the tourist area.
Annette Barth
Steinbeis Consulting Center Innovations and Energy (Trossingen)
su1301@stw.de