The car of the future must not only be climate neutral, it must also use smart technology to adapt to people’s needs, thus becoming a kind of “smartphone on wheels”, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at the meeting. of a summit dealing with both climate action and industry which took place this week in Berlin.
Germany’s auto industry must transform to meet climate targets
To meet Germany’s climate goals, the auto industry must undergo a significant transformation, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a summit titled “Industry and climate action using the example of the auto industry »Which he organized in Berlin.
The President invited figures from industry and research from across the Rhine to discuss the transformation of sustainable mobility and its social and economic consequences.
Adapt to people’s needs, to become a “smartphone on wheels”
The car of the future must not only be climate neutral, it must also use smart technology to adapt to people’s needs, thus becoming a kind of “smartphone on wheels,” said Steinmeier. Adding that research and development should remain a priority for Germany as an industrial site in the years to come.
A transformation synonymous with loss of jobs?
However, a structural transformation presents a risk of job loss. Jörg Hofmann, president of the Metalworkers’ Union (IG Metall), for his part, made it clear at the summit that equipment manufacturers were cutting jobs in Germany, and creating new ones abroad.
The union leader argued a “lack of action”, especially in the development of charging infrastructure.
Ottmar Edenhofer, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), stressed that the technological revolution, as necessary as it is, could lead to job losses. “Low-income households must therefore be included in this transformation,” he said.
Climate protection should not divide society into winners and losers, said Siegfried Russwurm, head of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
“In Germany too, there are yellow vests in every car,” said Russwurm, alluding to the movement of yellow vests in France, which in particular feel left out by a climate policy showing in their eyes little consideration for low income people.
Advocacy in favor of synthetic fuels and efficient heat engines
The German auto industry is committed to climate neutral mobility by 2050, but some companies reject a single focus on electric mobility and say a combination of efficient combustion engines and synthetic fuels is also essential to achieve climate goals. Unless they are mainly concerned with achieving their own financial goals? ….
The adoption of electric vehicles has been slow in Germany compared to many other markets, but in 2020 the number of newly registered electric cars has increased significantly. While the country’s major automakers are heavily focused on electric mobility, its large auto parts sector is also turning to alternative technologies, particularly hydrogen fuel cells and synthetic fuels made from renewable hydrogen.
Our opinion, by leblogauto.com
Germany is trying to preserve employment in its important industrial sector by promoting “efficient” heat engines and synthetic fuels…. also not to depend too much on Asian countries and China, which are the main suppliers of batteries essential to electric vehicles.
By dint of promoting electric mobility, Germany – and the other Euorpe countries – could indeed be harakiri…: such a technology requires less labor and less maintenance. In addition, the battery, the centerpiece of the vehicle, is not – or little – produced locally, and therefore does not create jobs on German soil while giving pride of place to China, which can thus affect prices. … Even on deliveries.
As for the “smartphone on wheels” dimensions, Berlin is also trying to differentiate itself from the Chinese competition which is starting to arrive in Europe on the electric vehicle market … wishing to perpetuate its brand image of “Deutsche Qualität” by offering vehicles high tech and adapting to customer needs.
This also helps to understand the interest of the deployment of 5G … which makes it possible in particular (or above all? To connect vehicles to applications and services that are increasingly demanding in data transfer.
Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung
To read also:
. Chinese EV: new adversary of the German auto industry
–
