The German government's climate protection plan sets a greenhouse gas reduction target of 37% for the transport sector by 2030 [Bund-2016]. But how can this ambitious target be achieved? One key is electromobility. At present, there are still major challenges due to the consumption of resources in the production of batteries and short ranges, and there are problems in building the infrastructure.
However, batteries offer a largelyCO2-free energy source for the transport sector - provided that the electricity used for charging comes from non-fossil sources.
Another advantage is that the direct use of electricity with electric drives is associated with the lowest conversion losses compared to most other drive concepts. The question therefore arises as to whether there will only be means of transportation with battery-electric drives and/or fuel cells in the future and whether combustion engines with the associated fuels will still be needed at all.
In the new position paper "Fuels of the future", experts from Fraunhofer Umsicht assess the importance of fuels for the transport sector from a scientific perspective. They agree that we will continue to need fuels with a high energy density in the future. For large areas of transportation - including air traffic, shipping, work machines or (long-distance) truck traffic - a battery-electric drive is currently difficult or even impossible to implement in practice. The Fraunhofer experts are therefore focusing on regenerative alternatives to fossil fuels. They highlight these alternatives and identify their respective potential. The position paper provides a summary of the necessary steps required for an ecologically, economically and socially successful transport transition.
