Outlook

Kohler likes to describe the path to the automotive future as an “organized searching process.” To date, it has thrown up a great variety of possible solutions. Like biodiversity – nature’s secret of success – technology will provide different solutions for different requirements in the future.

Various niches will have to be accommodated – for example, in urban areas, which could eventually develop into fast-growing markets for electric vehicles with a radius of around 50 to 150 km (30 to 90 miles). “London is a good example. The traffic situation and the congestion charge provide a good opportunity to test a small series of 150 smart ed vehicles under everyday conditions,” Kohler reports. “Basically, we have to start viewing changed conditions as opportunities to enter new business areas that possibly go beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing operations.

One day, the borders between energy suppliers, infrastructure operators, and automakers may become blurred. There are virtually no limits to the imagination as we proceed down the road to the future.”