Chairmen

Prof. Wolf-Rüdiger Canders, TU Braunschweig
Prof. Dr. Burghard Voß, IAV

This is now the tenth gathering of the experts on alternative drives to exchange opinions on this still topical issue. Whereas at the very first event 12 years ago the focus was still very much on research, in recent years there has been a shift towards manufacturing readiness and use in mass production. It is interesting to observe how the initial approaches focusing on electric and hybrid vehicles are now also being reapplied in the commercial vehicle segment with some very promising
results.

As ever, energy storage systems are the Achilles heel of powertrain electrification. That is why the conference has invariably concentrated on the development of battery technology, and fuel cell development is a mainstay of the conference agenda. A comparison of the battery data of cells on the market today and those of 10 years ago
shows a clear advance in terms of voltage fluctuation under load and voltage stability over SOC. It is, however, also evident that progress tends to be gradual, and so we will still have to put up with current li-ion technology for a while.

In the vehicle concepts being discussed we are seeing a switch from the hybrid powertrain to battery electric vehicles or what are termed plug-in hybrids, which enable additional battery charging via the power grid and an appreciable range in purely electric driving (some 10 km). Here general legislation (e.g. inner city toll) plays a decisive role,
arousing controversy in debate time and again.

Driving Event

At the end of the first conference day IAV invites all paticipants to the traditionall driving event at IAV Gifhorn. Use the chance and testdrive several hybrid and electric vehicles in line with the driving event.