More combustion engines will be built in 2030 than today

The gentlemen of the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Kraftfahrzeug und Motorentechnik (WKM) are really angry. Between the lines of their position paper "The Future of the Internal Combustion Engine - Assessment of the Diesel Engine Situation", it becomes abundantly clear, despite all scientific linguistic discipline, how unrealistic the experts find today's established hostility towards combustion engines when they quote forecasts that "according to all predictions, more combustion engines will be built worldwide in 2030 than today". Intensive research and further development is therefore needed to maintain technological leadership.

27 professors from German, Austrian and Swiss universities who are or have been active as institute directors, heads of departments or chairs in the field of automotive and/or engine technology have signed the position paper. They all want to provide the public with scientific findings and an assessment of the facts in "the ongoing, intensive discussion about diesel engine and petrol engine emission issues". That's what academic censure sounds like.

The gentlemen have observed last year's discussion with its pronounced and partly justified criticism of diesel engines with concern. The WKM is disturbed by the development "that instead of sober, fact-based information, predominantly biased and very emotional reporting" can be observed. The association now wants to counter this with three core statements "based on the current state of scientific knowledge":

The combustion engine is the engine of mobility

"The combustion engine was and is the engine of mobility, freight transport and mobile machinery. This role is supplemented, but not replaced, by electric drives. A technology-open further development of drive systems is a prerequisite for a successful climate policy in a prosperous society."

Emissions are no longer an issue

"Due to very low contributions from combustion engines, the issue of emissions and, above all, immissions will no longer be an argument against diesel or petrol engines in the future. The current state of technology already ensures that emission limits can be met without exception. Weaknesses identified in retrospect are no longer relevant for the future. Based on intensive research, completely environmentally neutral combustion engine drives are feasible."

Alternative fuels as a guarantee for the future of combustion engines

"The particular advantage of the combustion engine lies in the efficient and flexible use of fuels with high energy density and excellent storage and distribution options. With this fundamental characteristic, the combustion engine has constantly reinvented itself and, when considering the overall system, enables lower CO2 emissions than alternative technologies. The potential to flexibly use non-fossil and therefore CO2-neutral fuels is a further guarantee for a sustainable technology that can be used in the long term."

The WKM does not hold back in its criticism of the reporting and complains that the content of the statements is incorrect or inappropriately judgmental. For example, the diesel engine is not the cause of the particulate matter issue. It only contributes to a few percent, with a downward trend. The contribution of petrol engines is classified as "also very low". According to the company, NO2 emissions have been declining throughout the country for over ten years.

The professors are therefore "very concerned about the discussion trend towards banning the combustion engine". Such a ban on the combustion engine in 2030, for example, would have a detrimental effect on the fight against climate change, they explain. Instead of a ban, the WKM advocates a holistic and honest consideration of CO2 emissions for the provision of energy and the production and disposal of drive systems. Alternative synthetic and biogenic fuels would have to become an important building block for further CO2 reduction.

In its position paper, the association of leading institutes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland advocates competition between drive concepts with the aim of reducing emissions to the level specified by the pollution of the intake air ("pragmatically zero"). The air behind the vehicle should be as good as the air in front of the vehicle. (aum)

The complete statement: https://www.wkm-ev.de/images/20170708_Die_Zukunft_des_Verbrennungsmotors.pdf