Electric Vehicles

Dwindling oil resources and climate change as well as local noise and environmental pollution leave little doubt that the internal combustion engine will gradually be replaced by electric drive trains.

Various hybrid and electric vehicle models are already available. However, a deeper market penetration still requires considerable efforts on part of vehicle and battery producers:

• Battery: Increasing battery power whilst achieving lower battery prices
• Drive train: tuning of components, e.g., improving thermal management
• Chassis: development of new concepts adjusted to usage and new technologies; lightweight construction

The integration of electric mobility into the grid and the creation of a comprehensive infrastructure pose challenges especially for energy suppliers and IT service providers:

• Charging: establish an adequate charging infrastructure suited both for the requirements of EVs and grid
• Billing: design of new systems and business models
• „Smart Grid“ and „Smart Metering“: development of an IT-based management of charging and billing
• „Vehicle-to-grid“: using an EV as an energy storage device, integrated with renewable energies

However, technology and infrastructure alone are insufficient for adopting e-mobility on a broad scale. Additional measures on part of government and associations are crucial:

• Market entry: the creation of monetary and/or immaterial incentives
• Research: coordination of fundamental and applied research, field trials and demo projects
• Industry: creation of an EV industry through strategic attraction of companies and support for start-ups
• Standardization: defining norms for a number of components

Apricum advises companies and public institutions on e-mobility and related issues.

Vehicle/Battery producers: How do I organize market entry? Who would be a suitable partner? How do I organize sales and distribution?

Energy suppliers/IT-service providers: Which business model is promising? How can I effectively implement a particular business model? Who are the most suitable partners?

City/Region/State: How do I create jobs through e-mobility? Is boosting research a good way to attract firms? How do I develop our region into a leading e-mobility site?

Would you like to discuss your interests further? Please contact us.