Our mobility transition

Mario Mainzer is currently checking the charging stations. As General Maintenance Manager, he knows every corner of the Oberkirch site – and every challenge of the transformation. "At the beginning of 2022, many people still thought: This will never work," he recalls. "More than 50 electric cars? And the charging infrastructure? It sounded like a logistical nightmare."

He and Maximilian quickly became friends when Maximilian joined PWO. The two men share more than just a professional passion for sustainability: as nature lovers, they regularly enjoy their home region, the Black Forest, while cycling or hiking. "When I walk through the forest, I am constantly reminded of how valuable, but also how fragile, this heritage is," says Maximilian thoughtfully.

PWO's figures show that the Group takes this knowledge seriously: what began in 2022 as a simple requirement—all new orders must be for electric vehicles—has developed into a consistent transformation. Every leasing vehicle that reached the end of its lease was replaced by an electric car. The change was so gradual that it happened almost imperceptibly.

Parallel to the electrification of the vehicle fleet, the necessary charging infrastructure was also systematically expanded. In the first year of the transition, the team installed 22 charging stations, each with a capacity of 22 kW. In 2024, another 16 charging stations with the same capacity were added, as well as a charging station with two charging points and a maximum total capacity of 240 kW for visitors. What sounds dry was, in practice, a logistical and, above all, technical challenge.

"In the beginning, there were occasional traffic jams at the charging stations, vehicles had to be reparked, and colleagues were annoyed about the lack of charging spaces," Mario recalls with a wink. "With the current infrastructure, everything runs like clockwork and there are almost always free spaces available. When guests visit the premises, they immediately notice the impact of electrification. It's nice to see."

But the revolution is not limited to the parking lot. Progress is also advancing in the production hall, where 35 of 39 forklifts whir through the aisles electrically. Felix Berger, Logistics Process Planning, explains the difference. "The electric models are significantly quieter. Only for the heaviest loads do we still rely on our four remaining gas-powered forklifts with their combustion engines – but even here, technology is advancing rapidly."

Giorgio Fortino appreciates the change. "The electric loaders are really good for the environment – but also for us employees," he says, supporting the change. Working in receiving, he drives a forklift every day and enjoys the peace and quiet that this change has brought him.

Back in his office, Maximilian looks at last year's statistics. PWO has saved at least 251 tons of CO₂e through the fleet conversion alone. This corresponds to the total CO₂e emissions of the original fleet from 2019, which has also grown significantly in the meantime. "The fully electrified vehicle fleet is a visible sign of our Group's commitment to climate protection, which motivates us all to be part of this transformation. This is how we are living the mobility transition."