Sustainable business travel - With the e-car to the customer appointment

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Car, train or plane? How company management sends its employees on business trips is increasingly having an impact on the image of companies. An analysis by the German Travel Management Association e.V. (VDR) revealed that companies are aware of their responsibility for the environment and climate: Sustainable business travel is becoming increasingly important. A popular alternative to the train is the electric car.

BEFORE DEPARTURE: PLAN YOUR ROUTE, BE MORE RELAXED ON THE ROAD

If you are going on a business trip with an electric car, you have to keep an eye on the range. The range of modern electric cars is now up to 500 kilometres on one battery charge, while smaller city runabouts need to be charged more frequently. How long the battery really lasts is determined above all by driving style, speed and the use of heating and air conditioning. Economical driving also means sustainability here! Modern board systems provide information about the remaining kilometres.

If a full battery charge is not enough, the traveller has to fill up with new electricity on the way. The route should therefore be planned in advance, depending on the range and destination of the business trip: This works best with the help of special map and navigation systems such as Chargemap or GoingElectric, which show possible charging points in addition to the route. GoingElectric also includes the car model and plug type of the vehicle used in its individual calculation. The ADAC route planner offers another alternative.

ON THE ROAD: TO THE NEXT CHARGING STATION VIA APP

According to the BDEW (German Association of Energy and Water Industries), e-mobilists in Germany can currently fill up with new electricity at more than 27,000 public charging points. The charging points are mainly operated by energy suppliers, but also by car parks, hotels and supermarkets. Along the trunk roads, fast-charging stations at motorway service stations provide new energy. The highest density of charging stations is still in the cities. If you go to Munich, Hamburg or Berlin, you don't have to look far. They have the most charging stations in Germany. In central Germany, the distribution of electric charging stations is now also impressive. According to the Federal Network Agency, there are 501 charging stations in Saxony, 355 in Thuringia and 243 in Saxony-Anhalt.

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Due to the many different providers, drivers of e-vehicles currently still have to adapt to many different payment systems. Roaming, i.e. the networking of many local providers, means that the charging card of one's own energy supplier can often be used to pay at other locations in Germany. Since 2019, the Charging Pillar Ordinance (LSV) has also ensured that spontaneous and selective charging processes are possible at all public charging pillars. This means that charging is possible even without an existing contract.

SachsenEnergie recommends using the "E-Charging Legacy" app, which is available for both Android and Apple devices. An integrated overview map shows all available charging stations. A navigation option makes it easier to drive to the desired charging point. You can also see whether the charging point is free or occupied. Billing takes place either directly via the mobile phone contract, prepaid credit, direct debit or credit card. Thanks to the SMS option, "E-Charging" also works without the Internet. The costs for the charging process are displayed transparently for each charging point in the app or appear on your mobile phone bill.

When choosing a charging station, business travellers should pay attention to whether it is a normal or a fast charging station. While a charging process - depending on the charge level of the battery - takes two to three hours at a normal charging station, the battery can be recharged within half an hour at a fast charging station. Please note: Due to the charging process, the journey with the electric car takes longer overall than with a petrol car, but this can be cleverly exploited by taking planned breaks.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS TRAVEL: CLIMATE PROTECTION IS MORE THAN ELECTRIC CARS

In order for employees to reduce theirCO2 consumption on the road, sustainable business trips must also be well organised beyond the arrival and departure. Charging stops are therefore a good time to take a break, especially on longer business trips. But climate protection also means better avoiding coffee-to-go cups and take-away lunches when travelling. If you eat in a restaurant or drink your coffee from your own thermo cup, you don't produce unnecessary packaging waste. If there is not enough time to eat on site, it is important to use sustainable packaging materials for the sake of the environment.

Choosing the right hotel also pays off in terms of the sustainability of the business trip. Environmentally friendly accommodation sources electricity from renewable sources, measures theCO2 emissions of its overnight stays and stocks its buffet with regional and seasonal food. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association maintains a list of accommodation locations that have been awarded the DEHOGA Environmental Check. The Green Globe programme certifies hotel establishments that meet environmentally friendly and sustainable criteria. On the ChargeHotels page, you can find all hotels that have their own charging stations. This makes your business trip even more sustainable.

In general, employees should of course check whether a trip is really necessary or whether a video or telephone conference is sufficient. After all, the best climate protection is still the trip that you did not take. If a personal meeting with customers or partners is necessary, it is worthwhile to make several appointments at the same time at the destination or to extend the trip at one's own expense. This is a simple way for companies to save on additional journeys. In any case, the travel group should be as small as possible: The fewer colleagues travelling, the more environmentally friendly.

CONCLUSION: BUSINESS TRAVEL AND SUSTAINABILITY BELONG TOGETHER!

Travelling by train is good for the environment and relaxing; however, an e-car offers more independence and flexibility on business trips. With more than 27,000 public charging points, travellers in Germany can easily reach their destination. Numerous map and navigation systems help with route planning in advance. Those who want to travel sustainably plan not only their arrival and departure, but also their stay on site - for example, by choosing an environmentally friendly hotel or restaurant. This way, sustainability is also a part of your business trip!

How do you deal with business travel? What ways do you combine business travel and climate protection? Write to us at frag@umschalten.de!

A contribution by Stefan Oswald

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