With his keynote address, “Sustainable Powertrain Diversity in a Worldwide Changing Political and Economic Landscape,” on the future of sustainable powertrain technologies, Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Casal Kulzer opened the Stuttgart Conference on Automotive Production (SCAP 2026) today at the ARENA2036 research campus. In his address, he emphasized the importance of technological diversity for the mobility of the future.
His central message: Sustainable mobility cannot be reduced to a single powertrain technology. Rather, a variety of solutions is needed to meet the requirements of different vehicle segments, markets, and applications.
Three aspects were highlighted:
- Technology Diversity: Batteries, hydrogen, renewable electricity and sustainable fuels — no single solution fits all applications.
- Life-Cycle Thinking: From raw materials and production to energy infrastructure, efficiency and emissions — the entire life cycle matters!
- Global Perspectives: Political frameworks, economic realities and market dynamics are shaping different mobility pathways worldwide.
Looking ahead to the coming decade, we must ask which powertrain technologies and energy sources will play which roles in the future.
The conclusion of the keynote: “Without Diversity, no Future!” Technological diversity and nuanced consideration of global requirements are essential for sustainable mobility concepts.
SCAP 2026 brings together academics and industry experts to discuss the future of automotive production and sustainable value chains.