A Dual Strategy for Powertrain Development

Auszug

E-mobility is coming; the only question is when and how fast. We anticipate strong growth momentum with a pronounced knee point. This scenario will bring about major changes for our industry. To ensure a seamless technology transition, we must continue developing our existing product portfolio while investing in alternative powertrain technologies. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), approximately 34,000 electric vehicles are currently registered in Germany, compared with around 45 million ICE-driven (internal combustion engine) vehicles. Optimistic forecasts indicate that by 2030, up to 30 % of new vehicles will run exclusively on electric power. This means that over the coming years, the internal combustion engine will need to make a key contribution toward lowering CO₂ emissions, given the registration figures multiplier. And it can do just that. Our challenge now is to fully tap every potential to ensure that, overall, we arrive at the required improvement. Reduced friction, smart thermal management, and, in the near future, the use of ORC systems for exhaust gas recovery are the technologies we will continue to leverage. Alternative fuels offer relatively significant savings – and don't even need to be synthetic to begin with. Simply transitioning to CNG, paired with a monovalent strategy, promises CO₂ savings of up to 30 %. It is important now to implement these potentials as quickly as possible. …