MoDeCa - Mobility Decarbonization Campus

The merger of Bochum University of Applied Sciences (HSBO) and the University of Health Sciences on January 1, 2025, has created a unified university with around 9,300 students and just under 1,000 employees at three locations: the central campus, the health campus, and the campus Velbert-Heiligenhaus. This has created new commuting needs for students and employees, particularly between the central campus and the health campus (approx. 3 km apart). 

The project “Mobility Decarbonization Campus” (MoDeCa) addresses these new mobility requirements and aims to make commuting and business travel at HSBO more sustainable. The focus is on shared transport solutions based on light electric vehicles (LEVs) supplemented by sustainable charging infrastructure and digital booking and ride-sharing platforms. 

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Iris Mühlenbruch from the university's own Institute for Mobility and Transport Systems and her staff. 

The transport sector is one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in Germany. Short journeys in urban areas in particular are still often made by car, even though there is great potential for substitution with environmentally friendly alternatives, especially micromobility. Universities with multiple campuses are a relevant use case in this context, as they involve regular commuting, business trips, and study trips. 

Preliminary work on mobility management and the climate protection concept of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences show considerable potential for reducing CO₂ emissions. At the same time, the existing public transport connection, despite the U35 connection between both campuses, is of limited appeal due to walking distances of around ten minutes and high capacity utilization during rush hours. During off-peak hours, however, the service is underutilized, which encourages the use of motorized private transport. 

Current research shows that light electric vehicles, in combination with sharing concepts, suitable infrastructure, and digital platforms, can make an important contribution to the transport transition. The project builds on these findings and systematically investigates the extent to which micromobility services can replace car journeys and reduce CO₂ emissions. 

The project comprises the following components: 

• Light electric vehicles and charging infrastructure: procurement and provision of LEVs and development of a sustainable charging infrastructure in a living lab with user involvement. 

• Route development: planning and construction of a suitable route between the central campus and the health campus for a safe and attractive use of LEVs. 

• Digital platform: Development of a booking platform for LEVs and a carpooling exchange to promote carpooling. 

• Accompanying scientific research: Data collection on commuting, business, and travel routes, traffic volume estimation, CO₂ accounting, and impact assessment.

The aim of the project is to develop an integrated, sustainable mobility concept for Bochum University of Applied Sciences, implement it in practice, and evaluate it scientifically. The central objectives are: 

• Reduction of CO₂ emissions by substituting car journeys for commuting, business, and study purposes 

• Integration of light electric vehicles into a shared, campus-wide mobility system 

• Establishment and testing of a sustainable, energy-self-sufficient charging infrastructure 

• Developing a digital platform for vehicle booking and carpooling 

• Quantitatively estimating traffic volume and CO₂ reduction potential 

• Strengthening the acceptance of sustainable forms of mobility among students and employees 

Funding is provided by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) as part of the funding guideline for corporate mobility management – innovation funding. 

Project duration: 01/2026 – 06/2027 

Funding provider: Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) 

Project sponsor: Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) 

Funding program: Corporate Mobility Management – Innovation Funding 

Funding reference: VBBMM2609 

Funding amount: 474.829,99€