Motor Vehicles
During the last few decades, traffic has clearly increased faster than economic output. The traffic systems of many larger cities are threatening to collapse and in spite of an awareness of the limited oil reserves, a change in traffic volume cannot be anticipated.
The vision of sustainable mobility involves methods of moving people and goods internationally to a high standard but with less traffic. This would reduce the adverse impact on the climate and the national economy.
It requires the technologies and fuels used to also comply with the criteria of sustainability. In Germany, additional research, development and optimisation is taking place with regard to both of these approaches. Alternative propulsion technologies such as those for hybrid and electrical vehicles are already available and may replace the conventional diesel and petrol engines. Vehicles with fuel cells and combustion engines using hydrogen will make a considerable contribution towards protecting the environment and saving energy resources in future. Natural gas, bio-diesel, methanol, hydrogen or synthetic BTL (Biomass to Liquid) fuels might be used in tanks, instead of fuel made of mineral oil.
This website contains project descriptions regarding these topics, in particular alternative propulsion methods, concepts for the optimisation of components for zero-emission vehicles or potential applications for lubricants that can be broken down by biological means for rail-bound vehicles.
German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)