Review 200921st International AVL Conference 'Engine & Environment'10th – 11th September, 2009
Helmut-List-Halle, Graz, Austria Combustion Engine and Electric Drive – Partners or Competitors in the Powertrain of the Future?The automotive industry is in upheaval. During an economic crisis of all times, politicians and consumers, in the face of climate change concerns and dwindling mineral oil reserves, expect a massive effort in the development of alternative powertrain technologies. Enormous sums of money are being invested in research and development without the security of knowing which technology will achieve a market breakthrough. The most significant current technology trend is the electrification of the powertrain: full hybrid, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range extender through to full electric vehicle are the concepts which will characterise future mobility. A lot depends on the advances made in battery technology, and the combustion engine will continue to play an important rôle in the future, but which? Will the combustion engine and electric drive complement each other or compete in future mobility concepts?
320 experts from 22 countries met at the 21st AVL International Conference "Engine and Environment" to discuss this question. From the very beginning it was clear from the participant participation how deeply manufacturers and suppliers are occupied with this subject. The struggle taking place to find the right strategy was already clear from the first presentations in which the GM Voltec drive system and the VW twinDRIVE concept were discussed.
The quality of the conference benefited from not only the input of experts and engineers who presented their latest developments, but also from the contributions of branch "outsiders", whether from the energy supply industry, mineral oil industry or motivational research, they aroused great interest. In the future, it won't be sufficient just to electrify the powertrain, these vehicles must also be sold and the necessary infrastructure provided to enable their operation.
The significant potential still existing for the combustion engine was also a topic alongside the various hybridisation strategies and full electric solutions. Its employment as a Range Extender proved to be one of the most fascinating approaches. In total, four different concepts were presented and discussed. In the TED questionnaire carried out during the closing podium discussion the conference participants rated the Range Extender as the hybrid variant with the greatest promise of success.
During both conference days many pertinent questions concerning the combustion engine and electric drive were discussed. Although a conclusive verdict as to whether they will be partners or competitors in the powertrain of the future could not be reached, a conclusive verdict was reached that the subject must be discussed further. The question as to what will keep us mobile in the future, whether hydrocarbons or batteries, and what rôle the Range Extender will play, will be the subject of the 22nd AVL International Conference "Engine and Environment" in Graz on 9th and 10th September 2010.
Ulrich Walter |