Double strike in Taunusstein: On Monday, August 2nd, not only the on-demand shuttle EMIL, short for «elektrisch mobil», will be launched in the hessian commune, but also the new RMV on-demand app. The residents of Taunusstein will then be able to travel flexibly throughout the entire city area. Instead of following a fixed timetable, EMIL can simply be booked via the app – and be on site within a short time after ordering.
Germany’s largest on-demand project
The launch of the app developed by Deutsche Bahn (DB) subsidiary ioki is another milestone for the entire on-demand offer of RMV: EMIL is the first on-demand shuttle that can be booked via this specially developed on-demand app of the RMV.
The app makes the decisive difference to classic call-a-bus systems: Anyone who wants to travel with EMIL simply and conveniently enters their journey request into the new on-demand app. The app bundles the passenger requests and determines the optimal route based on the bookings. This saves valuable time and closes the gap between conventional public transport services and private transport. Additional partners and areas will gradually be integrated into the app. Together with RMV, the ten partners form the largest on-demand network in Germany. Up to 1.8 million people in the regions can benefit from the network.
Strong partners, strong offer
EMIL’s partners are the local transport company Rheingau-Taunus-Verkehrsgesellschaft and the city of Taunusstein. Both share the costs for the running operation. The operator is GHT Mobility, which is active throughout Germany in the field of electric on-demand transport under the CleverShuttle brand. The booking and dispatching system is provided by the DB subsidiary ioki. With ioki, Deutsche Bahn has already realized about 65 on-demand transports in Germany and abroad in the past three years, about 40 percent of which are climate-friendly and powered by electricity or hydrogen.
This outstanding project is made possible by funding from the state of Hesse and the Federal Ministry of Transport. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is funding the project with 27 million euros as part of the funding guideline «Digitalization of municipal transport systems». In accordance with the funding period, the project is scheduled to run until the end of 2024. However, it is intended to continue the project beyond this period if there is sufficient demand and funding.
Electrically on the move
Within Taunusstein, EMIL is available Monday to Thursday from 05:30 to 22:30, Friday from 05:30 to 00:30, Saturday from 07:30 to 00:30 and Sunday from 08:30 to 22:30.
Passengers with a ticket valid in Taunusstein, such as a student ticket or a monthly ticket, only pay a comfort surcharge of €1.50 and an additional €0.15 per kilometre. Those who do not have a ticket valid in Taunusstein still pay a basic fare of €1.50. The journey with EMIL from the central bus station (ZOB) in Taunusstein to Wingsbach, for example, costs €3.45, depending on the exact destination. Those with an RMV season ticket even pay only about €1.95.
From August 2nd, Nissan minibuses will be used, and from mid-August, electrically powered Mercedes eVito Tourer PRO minibuses. Initially, three vehicles are on the road, one of which has been converted to be barrier-free. Two more vehicles will be available in autumn. If there is sufficient demand, there is an option for a sixth vehicle.
