From February 27 – 28, 2024, the community the powertrain and sustainable fuels met for the 11th time in Baden-Baden to discuss the future of the combustion engine in passenger cars and commercial vehicles and the contribution of sustainable fuels and energies to this. The more than 350 experts discussed perspectives for the combustion engine and spoke out in favour of the coexistence of drive concepts. After all, the transport sector can only be defossilised with a mix of technologies.
In addition to plenary speeches and an intensive panel discussion on the topic of "No climate protection without IC engines!" with international representatives from the automotive and fuel industry, science and the Bundestag, the experts discussed solutions in the parallel lecture sessions on passenger cars, commercial vehicles and sustainable fuels & energy, among other things:
- Carbon-neutral IC engines from a global perspective
- CO2 recycling as a key topic for reFuels
- Further development potentials for the IC engine
- Hydrogen and other sustainable energy sources
- Legal and technological differences in the markets
You can find a detailed follow-up report here.
Experts provided insights into their views in the run-up to the congress:
„eFuels are a Key Pillar of the Transformation“ - Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chair, eFuel Alliance e. V.
"Climate Neutrality in the Transport Sector Would Be Possible More Quickly" - Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer, Scientific Director of the Congress
„We Do Not Have Much Time Left in This Race“ - Prof. Dr. Thomas Koch, Director of the Institute, IFKM, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
„Achieving CO2 Targets More Efficiently with More Flexibility and Technological Openness“ - Benjamin Krieger, Secretary General, CLEPA – European Association of Automotive Suppliers, Belgium