Mixing it up

摘要

Electrification of the powertrain used to be little more than a pet project for some in the automotive industry. Not much more than 10 years ago, it was seen as a gimmick that could help to gain attention, but was not considered as something that would ever actually form part of an OEM's long-term business plans, However, with the introduction, and then subsequent tightening, of legislation aimed at curbing vehicle emissions, opinion has completely turned around in the industry. Today, any manufacturer without an electric strategy needs, at the very least, an alternative fuel solution if it is to stay competitive in the future, Time is running out, believes Continental's head of hybrids and electric vehicles, Ralf Schmid.