The starting point is nearly always policy and regulation. Often seemingly arbitrary national, regional, and international targets set the direction of travel for the industry and the tireless work of engineers. But the necessary framework of regulation isn’t always in place, making targets more challenging for the sector to meet, and narrowing the routes to improving sustainability.
“We want to become carbon and climate neutral,” said Dr Stephan Neugebauer, Director Global Research Cooperation at BMW Group. “Do we have the regulation in place? No. We have automotive regulations to become zero emission, but that means the regulation isn’t technology-neutral because there are only two options: EVs or hydrogen.” Neugebauer, who chairs the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), was speaking during a lively debate on the impact of regulatory policies on propulsion system innovations.
Even without the clarity the industry would like, automakers and suppliers are working hard to ensure everything the industry does is directed towards improving efficiency—no matter the region—and battery technology is at the heart of future success.
The entire battery supply chain is working to develop chemistries that will power future transportation and meet the key drivers to mass market adoption: cost, energy density, recharge times, and sustainability. And this needs to be possible whether through continuing improvements to mainstream technologies, including NMC and LFP batteries, the introduction of LMFP, or other battery chemistries that offer even better cost-performance benefits.