Neighbourhoods wanted for e-car sharing project

Bocholt is taking part in a regional e-car sharing scheme. Neighbourhoods that would like to gain experience with e-mobility can apply until 19 August. In Bocholt, neighbourhood projects located outside the city centre are eligible for funding. These are the outlying areas of Biemenhorst, Mussum, Lowick, Holtwick, Liedern, Stenern, Hemden, Spork, Suderwick and Barlo. This is provided for in the LEADER funding regulations.

As nobody in rural areas wants to give up their second or third car without a good alternative, the LEADER region along the Bocholter Aa has launched the project "Neighbourhood car sharing in residential areas". According to a mobility study conducted in 2015, more than one in three households in the Borken district owns a second car, with 7% even owning three or more cars.

Households with children are most likely to have two or more cars. However, the benefits of having a second car with a high degree of flexibility are offset by many disadvantages: For the most part, the car just stands around, takes up space, consumes considerable resources and is also quite expensive: on average, a second car incurs costs of at least 200-400 euros.

Mayor Kerkhoff: "Testing a pioneering project in Bocholt"

"In rural areas in particular, many citizens are dependent on a car. The pilot project offers us the opportunity to test a forward-looking project in Bocholt and thus make a contribution to climate protection", says Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff. "In addition, it offers the opportunity to reduce costs for the participating households. This is a welcome effect, especially with the current sharp rise in consumption prices"

The LEADER project therefore aims to break the trend of increasing motorisation and reduce the number of second and third cars in the long term. To this end, an alternative and at the same time sustainable mobility offer with a high degree of flexibility is to be trialled: Two e-cars will be available for one year in each of 10 selected neighbourhoods (two per municipality). The installation of the charging infrastructure in the form of charging points is also part of the subsidised project. These will remain available to the neighbourhoods beyond the pilot phase and will also be made public afterwards so that other citizens can benefit from them. During the operating phase, experience will be gathered with the aim of establishing a long-term car sharing model for the region.

"The project clearly has a different approach to "normal" car sharing", says Alexander Jaegers from Regional Management. "It is intended to work directly on site in the neighbourhoods in order to offer participating households good accessibility and a high level of convenience." The two vehicles are more flexible and better available due to the limited number of participants.

From now on, groups of six to ten households in close proximity (same/adjacent street) can apply to participate in this project as a neighbourhood. Interested neighbourhoods must submit a short digital application form to the regional management by 19 August. "If you are interested in the topic of e-mobility and would like to take part in an innovative and local model project, you should definitely get your neighbours together and get them excited about the idea", says Alexander Jaegers from Regional Management. "This will enable citizens to help shape the sustainable development of mobility in the region and make an active contribution to the transport transition", he adds.

Apply online

The application form and further general and technical information on the project can be downloaded from the LEADER region website(https:/region-bocholter-aa.de or direct link to the application). Two digital information events are also planned to give interested parties the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with those involved in the project. The dates and access details for the online events will be published shortly on the LEADER region website.

The selection of participating neighbourhoods is then expected to take place at the beginning of September.
will take place.

The project is still subject to approval by the Münster district government.
Münster.

Contact

LEADER regional management:
LEADER office "Bocholter Aa"
c/o projaegt gmbh
Schorlemerstraße 48
48683 Ahaus
Tel: 02561 / 91 71 69 0
Mail: regionalmanagement(at)leader-bocholter-aa(dot)de