Car companies are working to reduce CO2 emissions on several fronts today, said IESE Prof. Marc Sachon, who met with IESE alumni in Frankfurt this week for a Continuous Education session focusing on mobility. Approaches for cutting back emissions include: reducing the mass of the car, reducing velocity, decreasing aerodynamic drag (which is a function of velocity) and improving energy efficiency (e.g., engines and gearboxes).
Prof. Sachon says that European governments should not force the introduction of hybrid and/or electric cars, due to the harmful effects this would have on the industry. Instead, the shift to hybrid and electric cars should be gradual and driven by successful business models, he said. As European governments put increasing pressure on car manufacturers to reduce the CO2 footprint of their products, OEMs are increasing their innovation pace and scope, once again turning the automotive industry into the leading R&D sector in Europe.
In his presentation, Prof. Sachon discussed implications of the electrification of the powertrain and presented several counter-intuitive insights of a recent research project awith the attendees.
