Introduction
The finite nature of resources and the growing greenhouse effect make a transformation of our energy system indispensable. This is particularly true for the transport sector, which has long relied on fossil fuels. These energy sources offer limited potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and must be replaced.
When selecting a suitable new propulsion technology, several factors need to be considered, including the potential for a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the efficiency of the technology in utilizing renewable energy, the availability of raw materials, and the safety, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness of the technology.
This lecture explores these factors and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various drive technologies, such as combustion engines with eFuels, hydrogen drives, and battery-electric drives. A particular focus is placed on the recent advancements in batteries, including improvements in battery chemistry, cells, and packs. New developments in the design of the battery pack allow more active material to be stored in the battery, thus opening the door to the utilization of lighter materials with a sustainable composition and that are environmentally benign, including novel battery chemistries, based on the sodium-ion shuttle, for example.
Over the past decade, the cost per kWh has decreased by 90%, and the capacity of cells has increased two- to threefold. The lecture also covers the development of more sustainable materials, lower cell costs, longer driving ranges exceeding 1000 km, fast charging times of around 10 minutes, and ultra-safe batteries, all illustrated with relevant examples.