Mazda: Electric vehicles may not be the only answer, ‘there are additional things’ to consider
As car brands around the world race towards electrification, Mazda is pushing to focus more on a range of eco-friendly methods of propulsion, showing that electric vehicles are not the only answer. .
Speaking at Mazda CX-60 launchedChristian Schultze, research director for technology and technical compliance at Mazda, says electrification makes sense in some applications, but it’s not always the right answer.
“Frankly, the current political situation has shown us the vulnerability and dependence on single sources or single technologies,” said Mr.
“Even if you’re looking at battery technology, you need nickel and cobalt, lithium, and there aren’t too many countries in the world that can provide this,” he said.
Mr. Schultze went on to mention that the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has recently pushed for the mitigation of CO2 standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, which are approved by the European Commission. announced in July 2021.
The vote was in favor of adjusting the European Commission’s proposed 100% CO2 reduction target for 2035 to a 90% target, compared with 2021 levels.
Mr Schultze said this vote has the potential to open the door to other sources of motivation, because the 100% target means “you have no choice but to electrify”.
“Of course we want to move forward,” he said. “We really want this decarbonization… and we really believe that electrification has a big part in that.
“As you’ve seen from our production or product forecasting, we’re going to bring in a large number of hybrid, electric hybrid vehicles. We are introducing a new platform. We don’t invest so much for nothing.
“We really believe that electrification has its way but there may also be additional things that we have to consider,” he said.
So, what is the answer? Mazda thinks there’s still plenty of scope in electronic fuelA side benefit of that is that investing in e-fuels provides a sustainable solution for powering an existing fleet of internal combustion vehicles.
“We are also a member of the e-fuel alliance and there are a lot of companies that are either producing technologies for these fuels, or are selling fuels and are interested in selling green fuels,” said Mr. Schultze. or fuel production.
“And I think there are a lot of investments or interested outside investors in the world that would be willing to install these,” he said.
“If you remember in the history of the 80s, there were predictions… in 2005, we would run out of oil, and then we would have dark houses, and we would freeze – and All this programmed stuff, didn’t happen to us. But the technology has become more readily available and things are getting more and more advanced,” said Schultze.
“But simply now we have to think about radical cuts. Well, let’s leave the oil where it is and think what better we can do? ”
“Any type of combustion could be powered by these e-fuels if the fuel could be created as a synthetic alternative that is identical in chemical and physical activities to the fields now available. Otherwise, we would not be able to service the existing fleet with these fuels,” said Mr.
