Over the last few decades, mobility has undergone several structural changes riding on the waves of technology and innovation. Although the automobile industry has taken a harsh beating in the light of previous economic storms and the coronavirus epidemic, the trend of electric mobility is set to have a revolutionary impact on the world.
From horses to electric vehicles
“The evolution of technology has consistently defied the predictable assumptions of society, particularly so in the car manufacturing industry,” explains Alexander Kotouc, Head of Experimental Marketing at BMW Group. In the 1800s, the most tech-savvy means of mobility were coaches drawn by horses. If the people of that time had been asked about the most innovative way of creating better coaches, their answers would most likely have revolved around adding more horses to the coaches. The idea behind their answers would be that more horses would equate to a faster ride. However, history records that the innovation of transport vehicles did not unfold as popularly imagined. A radical engineer and designer, Gottlieb Daimler Benz sidestepped convention and invented the combustion engine. One would expect that the entire world would drastically have been changed by this remarkable accomplishment. In reality, however, it took about four decades for society to become accustomed to combustion engine vehicles.
Even though the world has just started experiencing the buzz of electrification, Alexander confirms that some notable car manufacturers, particularly BMW, have been in the business of conducting research on and experimenting with electrification for over thirty years. Alexander states: “Change doesn’t happen overnight, therefore, it is expected that it might take some time for electrified cars to replace their combustion engine counterparts.” Governments, mobility service providers and automakers together with their materials and tech suppliers are working on turning the vision into reality.
Revolutionising the car manufacturing industry
To fully convince the entire world to undergo a radical shift towards electrification, car manufacturers are faced with the daunting task of creating a compelling argument for electric cars as the ideal means of transportation in the 21st century. Consumers want reliable, cost-efficient vehicles that do not diminish the pleasure of the driving experience. Alexander highlights: “The hardest part about creating electric vehicles is maintaining the luxurious standards already associated with the brand. The goal is to make electrified cars feel one hundred per cent like a regular BMW vehicle, even though it is powered by electricity.” So where does the automaker currently stand?
The most obvious disadvantage of combustion engine vehicles is the pollution of the environment through the emissions of harmful gases. The need to promote sustainability, therefore, lies at the core of electric mobility. BMW, for example, strives to use clean electricity to power its vehicles, utilising energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. Alexander notes: “BMW takes the mandate of creating a sustainable environment further by adopting a cradle-to-grave approach in its manufacturing process.” The materials used in manufacturing every car are recyclable and reusable, such that at the end of their lifespans, they do not constitute waste. For instance, the BMW i3 car seats are made of materials, which are the equivalent of 32 plastic bottles.
As innovative technology unfolds in leaps and bounds, car manufacturers are also learning a thing or two from digital companies and/or manage large technology teams themselves. The tech industry is known to have speedy product development and turnover processes that keep them in touch with the latest trends and allow them to stretch the extents of innovation. While the car manufacturing industry is heavily leaning toward creating the next cell phone on wheels, the world is set to experience a merger of the car manufacturing space with the tech industry. The good news is that it is to the customers’ advantage. The BMW i4, for example, hosts the brand’s latest entertainment system called iDrive. The intelligent personal assistant helps with in-car entertainment and a host of other functions. It works with gestures and speech to adjust the car settings by the customer’s convenience, to make them feel at home while driving.
Finding answers to pressing mobility challenges
By 2030, more than 60% of the world’s population will live in cities, raising central questions: How can we realise individual mobility in more and more densely populated urban areas? What concepts do we need to be able to organise traffic in a resource-efficient and climate-friendly manner? The challenges of mobility, and urban mobility in particular, not only require different vehicle products, but also new kinds of mobility services.
The BMW Group conducts research around these pressing issues under the umbrella of their Institute for Mobility Research, the BMW i brand, as well as visionary vehicle concepts. The resulting intelligent services are not only seamlessly integrated into everyday life, but also create synergies between themselves – from car-sharing to finding parking spaces or public charging stations.
From charging stations to stimulus packages – the leading role of governments
While automakers are working on constantly improving their electric car models, governments and cities are in the midst of developing the infrastructure needed to support their use. For instance, just as several gas stations exist to help refuel combustion engine cars, charging facilities for electric vehicles are created at strategic points in cities, villages and alongside motorways. Public parking spaces must also be adequately equipped with the infrastructure needed to support these cars.
Another way in which governments are trying to enhance the speedy adoption of electrified mobility is by making electric cars more attractive and affordable to the average consumer. It is widely reported that countries all over the world seek to support clean technology and/or electric mobility with the use of stimulus packages, with countries such as China and Germany at the forefront of this trend. As cities and governments begin to create capacity to accommodate electric automobiles, it will only be a matter of time before society accepts them as the new means of transportation.
“This joy is electric. This joy is electric and you’re circuiting through.” Do you know the song ‘Higher Power’ by Coldplay? The BMW group entered a partnership with the British band based on their shared interest in sustainability. The lyric lines succinctly capture the dawn of a new era in electric mobility. “Driving an electric car should always be the same fun as driving a combustion engine vehicle,” states Alexander. “I think we have already reached this point.” He is certain that once you try an electric car, you will not want to go back to a combustion engine vehicle.
About the Greentech Festival Berlin
Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 champion, became Julius Baer’s brand ambassador in 2021. In 2018, alongside two co-founders, Rosberg launched the annual Greentech Festival, now a leading platform for green technologies, ideas and products. The objective is to showcase some of the most forward-thinking sustainable innovations and create a global community of change-makers and innovators. As Excellence Partner, we interviewed Dr Alexander Kotouc at the Greentech Festival 2021.