Bosch to host FISITA Forum on smart energy for future mobility, with additional presentations from CharIN and Everledger. By Martin Kahl
The future of mobility hinges on a transition from oil and fossil fuels to renewable energy that can be stored efficiently, and delivered quickly, reliably, and affordably. Smart energy – essential to the success of next-generation mobility – is the key theme of the second FISITA Forum, which takes place in March 2021.
The FISITA Forum series is a quarterly two-date invitational event organised by FISITA and hosted from within the FISITA membership. The event’s Technical Sessions, which feature in-depth presentations aligned with the event theme, and the roundtable-style Discussion Sessions, will take place on 16 and 23 March respectively.
The FISITA Forum Q1 2021 Technical Sessions cover smart energy for future mobility, the challenges of EV charging, and the importance of traceability across the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain.
Led by host organisation Bosch, the world’s largest Tier 1 supplier, the agenda also features presentations from CharIN, an organisation which promotes the notion of a standardised solution for EV charging known as Combined Charging System (CCS), and Everledger, which has developed an independent digital platform for full supply chain visibility and traceability.
Moderated by industry experts and thought leaders, the structured Discussion Sessions give participants the opportunity to take a deep dive into some of the key themes raised in the Technical Sessions.
“Climate change is a fact, and the need for action on climate is arguably the most urgent and challenging transformation that mankind has ever faced,” notes Peter Wolfangel, Senior Vice President Advanced Technologies at Bosch, whose presentation looks at the role of battery and fuel cell electrification in next-generation mobility. “Energy efficiency will be key, from system level to component level as well as smart energy management between different sectors,” he adds. “The switch to electromobility and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains is of utmost importance, along with the net decarbonization of electricity and all fuels used.”
The everyday challenges of EV charging, for consumer and fleet users, are everyday topics for CharIN, and feature in Chairman Claas Bracklo’s presentation. “Various key factors are essential to increase the number of EVs on our streets and to progress sustainable mobility worldwide,” notes Bracklo, who is also Senior Consultant Electromobility at the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and Head of Electromobility at BMW. These factors, he says, include a comprehensive high-power charging infrastructure, an adequate level of grid integration, the advancement of longer-range EVs, and the rollout of customer convenience features such as charging infrastructure. “Enabling people to go on a long-distance trip in an EV with short charging times as well as easy billing systems for charging will open pure electric driving to new user groups,” adds Bracklo. “And smart charging with reverse power transfer will add additional value to the vehicle ownership proposition.”
Traceability across the supply chain is becoming an increasingly important issue. Its role not just in compliance but also in supporting responsible and efficient re-use of EV batteries is the core subject of the presentation by Everledger’s Lauren Roman, Business Development Director – Metals & Minerals Ecosystems. “The growing momentum in the EV industry is pushing battery repurposing and recycling up the agenda as it places increasing pressure on limited battery resources,” notes Roman, who is also the New Technology Lead for FISITA’s Battery Cluster. “The onus on battery supply chain and life cycle management globally is being placed on vehicle manufacturers. These obligations to sustainably manage batteries and battery materials can seem onerous for EV manufacturers, but they can be securely and efficiently managed and present significant opportunities for brand owners taking the right approach.” Everledger has experience in applying full traceability to sectors as varied as precious stones, alcoholic beverages, luxury goods, and art, and Lauren’s presentation outlines how traceability can be applied to the supply chain for EV batteries, and the potential for blockchain and accompanying technologies. Lauren will be represented in the Presentation Session by Chief of Staff, Eser Torun.
A summary of the key takeaways from the event, the FISITA Forum Output Paper, will be published in May 2021. Complimentary access to all FISITA content, from FISITA Forum, Summit and online conferences, to the full library of Output Papers, reports and whitepapers, is one of the key benefits of FISITA membership. Non-members can purchase FISITA content from the FISITA online store.
“I’m always impressed by the calibre of attendees at FISITA events, from the high-level presenters and speakers we attract, to the highly skilled engineers who represent our member organisations from around the world,” commented Chris Mason, FISITA Chief Executive. “We’re really proud to offer a range of exclusive events to FISITA members, and it’s a clear membership benefit.”