Powertrains of the Future: How We Will Meet our Climate Goals through Technology Neutrality

Authors

Dr. Stefan Hartung, Member of the Board of Management, Chairman Business Sector Mobility Solutions, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart:

Year

2021

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

Mobility is part of our individual quality of life, and vital for social and economic development. At the same time there is no question that we have to protect our climate. But how is it possible to bring ecological, social and economic interests into harmony? These apparently contradictory targets can be achieved by highly engineered powertrains that are tailored for their respective applications. There is no “one size fits all” solution: A wide range of technologies is needed to to attain our climate goals. Electrified powertrains are significantly gaining market share. Electrification options range from 48V hybrid systems to full electric drives, which can be powered by batteries or fuel cells. Progress in terms of range, vehicle costs, and in infrastructure is crucial for continued growth and is fostered by technical innovations from the industry as well as governmental infrastructure investments. Thanks to improvements possible by a combination of hardware and software within a system approach, urban mobility with only a negligible effect on local air pollution can also be achieved with internal combustion engines. Renewable synthetic fuels immediately contribute to improve the CO₂ balance of the existing vehicle population, without necessitating major infrastructure investments. In the end, the crucial factor is that every vehicle, existing or new, is run with energy from renewable sources in order to bring ecological, social and economic interests into harmony and support a mobility that is sustainable, safe and exciting.

Number of pages

23 Order