New urban mobility concepts

During the year under review, we launched two pioneering projects that will help secure the future of sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas.

The first, Initiative »e-mobility Berlin« was launched by Daimler and RWE in September 2008 and is the world’s largest joint project for climate- friendly electric automobiles. In addition to including all the components required for the efficient utilization of battery-electric vehicles, the project underscores Daimler’s commitment to the establishment of a suitable battery-charging infrastructure. Daimler is not only contributing more than 100 electric automobiles to the project from Mercedes-Benz and smart, but is also servicing the vehicles. The first cars will be in use in Berlin at the end of 2009. RWE is responsible for developing, creating, and operating a network of charging stations. Because "e-mobility Berlin" will play an important role in helping to secure future mobility, the German government is supporting the project. Electric smarts will also be deployed in other major cities in Europe and the US, beginning in early 2010. A total of 100 smart electric cars have been on the road in customer applications in London since the end of 2007.

The second innovative project now under way is car2go the pilot phase of which was launched in Ulm in October 2008. The car2go project allows simple, flexible, and reasonably priced mobility with environmentally friendly vehicles. smart fortwo cars can be rented around the clock throughout the city. Billing is simple and flexible — drivers are charged only €0.19 per minute at precise minute-long intervals. Discounts are offered to customers who use the cars for longer periods of time. Plans call for the car2go project to be expanded to other cities upon completion of the pilot phase in Ulm.