Mobility may be undergoing the biggest change since the invention of the car: the transition to electric vehicles. In the interview below, Uwe Schenk, Global Segment Manager E-Mobility & Renewable Energy at HELUKABEL GmbH, explains what challenges need to be overcome – and what role cables and wires play in moving the industry forward.
Mobility is perhaps undergoing the biggest change since the invention of the car: the transition to electric vehicles. (Source: © Bildwerk – stock.adobe.com)
MR SCHENK, THE EXPANSION OF E-MOBILITY IS SEEN AS A CRITICAL BUILDING BLOCK TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE GOALS. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON PROGRESS IN GERMANY AND EUROPE?
Electromobility has received a strong boost in Germany. The automotive industry now offers a wide range of electric vehicles. Cities and municipalities have also recognized the need for a national charging infrastructure. However, we are still in “slow motion mode” in terms of implementation and we are far from reaching our goal.
GASOLINE PRICES HAVE RISE SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT MONTHS DUE TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE. DO YOU THINK THIS WILL PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND MOTORISTS TO MOVE TO E-MOBILITY EVEN FASTER THAN PLANNED?
The current situation in Eastern Europe painfully exposes the failures of the past. There has been talk of an energy revolution for years, but so far these have been empty words. Wind energy, for example, is crucial for the success of the energy transition, but has been seriously neglected and needs to become a focus again. Our primary goal should be to replace all fossil fuel vehicles. The transport sector in particular is highly dependent on fossil fuels. A truck uses up to five times more diesel than a car! That is why we must switch as quickly as possible to hydrogen propulsion for long-distance transport and electric propulsion for short-distance transport. There is no good reason to wait any longer.
WHAT TECHNICAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS NEED TO OVERCOME FOR E-MOBILITY TO BE ADOPTED WIDELY IN THIS COUNTRY? WHICH COUNTRIES MAY ALREADY BE AHEAD OF GERMANY ON THIS POINT AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM?
I don't see any insurmountable obstacles – but it won't be easy to achieve nationwide e-mobility either. In cities and urban areas it will be more challenging than in rural areas, because not everyone can park and charge their car in front of their house. Yet there are innovative solutions to improve energy availability – for example energy storage systems that can create decentralized charging options. First and foremost, people's barriers to the adoption of this new technology must be removed and existing structures broken. An example of an obstacle is the high purchase price of vehicles: e-cars must be affordable for the masses. The auto industry is currently targeting middle and upper class buyers, so there is an urgent need to respond. As long as the combustion engine is significantly cheaper, people will continue to buy it. There are countries that are miles ahead of Germany in the field of e-mobility. For example, in cities in the Netherlands, a significant percentage of local public transport has already been converted to electric buses. We are seriously behind and can certainly learn from our neighbors.
HELUKABEL's charging cable HELUPOWER Charge for e-mobility (Source: HELUKABEL)
WHAT ROLE DO CABLES AND WIRES PLAY IN E-MOBILITY? HOW CAN THE RIGHT CABLES AND WIRES HELP ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY?
DC charging technology in particular requires very high currents that are conducted to the vehicle via a charging cable and a suitable plug. In principle this is not a problem for the cable, but its dimensions are limited by the size of the plug. The outer diameter of the cable is predetermined, as is the maximum cross-section of the copper conductors. Powerful charging stations are therefore equipped with active cooling systems. The coolant is passed through the charging cable and cools the copper conductor so that it can transmit higher currents. The contacts of the plug are also cooled by this circuit to transmit the high currents in the smallest possible space. This technology requires a sophisticated design of the liquid-cooled cables.
WHICH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS MUST CABLES AND WIRES IN E-MOBILITY APPLICATIONS MEET?
Technological progress would not be possible without the continuous product development of cables and wires. In non-static applications it is always a challenge to transmit electrical energy and achieve interference-free data communication. The demands on cables and wires in e-mobility are very high: the traditional charging cable at the charging station must be mechanically very resilient, function reliably for years and withstand frequent changing bending cycles. In the maritime sector there are applications where cables must be retractable and torsion-resistant at the same time. There are also charging functions that are provided via energy chains.
E-MOBILITY PROJECTS OFTEN REQUIRE ADVANCED CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS. WHAT DO YOU ACCEPT MAKES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH SPECIAL CABLES PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE?
With our production facilities all over the world, we can develop and implement tailor-made solutions together with our customers. For example, we produce complex hybrid cables used in the electrification of industrial trucks – or between power and charging units to make the installation of on-site charging technology as simple and quick as possible. I am particularly impressed by our ability to produce cables with an outer diameter of up to 70 millimeters, cross sections from 0.14 mm² to 400 mm² and the integration of BUS and fiber optic elements.
Uwe Schenk, Global Segment Manager E-Mobility & Renewable Energy at HELUKABEL GmbH: “If climate protection instead of profit maximization of the industry comes first, then e-mobility will be a success.” (Source: HELUKABEL)
LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL: WHAT DO YOU THINK MOBILITY WILL LOOK LIKE IN TEN OR TWENTY YEARS?
The demand for mobility remains unbroken and will not be affected by the coming major changes in the mobility sector. Battery-powered electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles will dominate the roadscape – and many of them will already be autonomous. I look forward to this development, to less noise and cleaner air. If climate protection and not profit maximization of the industry is the priority, e-mobility will be a success.
Nederlands