In Switzerland, most car journeys are shorter than 20 km. For these trips, a smaller, lighter vehicle would often suffice. According to a study conducted last year by the Mobilitätsakademie of TCS in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center, lightweight electric vehicles, known as 'Light Electric Vehicles' (LEVs), could replace 82% of car journeys in Switzerland—substantially reducing land use and greenhouse gas emissions. 29% of households in Switzerland own two or more cars, presenting a potential for substitution by lightweight electric vehicles.
Electric lightweight vehicles, especially when shared, have great potential. This is due to their high efficiency in traffic thanks to their low weight and their compact size when stationary, allowing parking spaces to be repurposed for other uses, such as a well-developed cycling lane network or more meeting spaces in city centres.
To increase awareness and acceptance of 'Light Electric Vehicles' and offer the public the opportunity to test various LEVs, the Mobilitätsakademie of TCS, supported by EnergieSchweiz, is launching the SHMOB.UP - Shared Mobility Pop-up Hubs project in early May. At two locations—in Bern and Meyrin—various LEVs can be rented and tested from May to October. The fleet consists of different electric cargo bike models, e-scooters, e-microcars, e-microtrucks, and three-wheeled light motor vehicles.
The vehicles can be reserved and booked directly through the 'carvelo' app. Using a vehicle from the SHMOB.UP fleet costs, in addition to the basic fee of CHF 5, CHF 4.50 per hour for e-cargo bikes, e-scooters, and the three-wheeled light motorcycle, and CHF 7 per hour for the e-microcar and the e-microtruck.
The SHMOB.UP project is supported by the Federal Office of Energy with its EnergieSchweiz program, location partners include the office of the TCS Bern section and Meyrinroule, with vehicle partners Robert Aebi Landtechnik AG, Etrix AG, and KYBURZ Switzerland AG.
www.shmobup.ch
Press contact: Ivo Brügger
Project Manager SHMOB.UP
Mobilitätsakademie of TCS
ivo.bruegger@tcs.ch
058 827 34 10