5. The Benchmark Is Still Current Behavior

When we talk about Germany as a location for innovation, we have in mind the research and development activities of industry and science as well as the institutional framework established by political policy. The users of the innovations, on the other hand, are generally not taken into account. Thus, the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) of the Federal Government stated in its report that the transformation of the energy system requires “a committed, coordinated effort on the part of all actors” (cf. EFI 2012: 5), but it does not mention the users of innovative, environmentally friendly products. This is surprising in that the success of innovative technologies depends directly on their acceptance and the public’s willingness to use them. This applies particularly to consumer-oriented products such as the electric car: if the electric car is to make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂-emissions and reducing the dependence on oil, the demand for electric cars must increase significantly. Electric bicycles have already achieved some success in the course of a temporary “hype” about electric mobility. So far, however, they have only been used as a supplement to the existing choices in means of transport.