93 percent of the energy needed for the transport sector comes from crude oil, up to now, only a very small portion is supplied by electric current. A max. of 10% could be developed from oil-sand and oil-shale up to 2030. Although experts estimate the possible percentage to be much higher. This kind of oil production however, is seen as an additional, massive threat to the environment.

There is, on the other hand, an almost unbridled increase in consumption, not only through the industrialised countries, but mainly through China and, with a certain amount of time delay, also India. Assuming that the increase in the industrialised countries will be quite low, the experts believe, that the demand in China will, e.g., in the next 25 years, be quadrupled.

On the other hand, the climatic catastrophe foreseen by nearly all scientists, demands the turning away from fossil fuels. It has been clear for a long time now, that the melting of the polar caps and the expansion of the desert-zones on the globe, must definitely be checked. There is a great deal more to be done than raising the dykes.

Of course, the most simple method would be, to promote the use of public transport. After all, in this field, the problems of energy supply have been solved a long time ago, right up to speeds of 200km/h and more. However, in the case of freight transportation, the limits of these systems become clear. Obviously, at present, they are nowhere near being in a position to organise the complicated shuttle-services.

It's going to prove difficult, particularly in the western world, to curtail the individual freedom of movement and to deny it to the newly arrived industrialised countries. Which energy form remains, which will guarantee this mobility? Naturally, the internal combustion engine will still have to guarantee this for a long time, but electric current offers an alternative which simply cannot be ignored.

There will probably never again be a compact energy form, like that in the present petrol tank. If you want to replace 50 liters of petrol with electric current, you will need about 630 (12 V/60 Ah) lead-acid batteries. At roughly 16 kg per battery, they would weigh in at approx. 10 tons. Even if the Lithium-Ion battery can store four times as much energy, it will never reach the capabilities of liquid fuel.

Up to a short time ago, the automobile industry was badly prepared for the invasion of electric current. Sure, there have always been electric vehicles, as can be seen in our line-up, (on the left) there have been the most varying practical examples, which have proved themselves over a period of more than than one hundred years. Indeed, as an alternative, they were only half-heartedly promoted. Occasionally, one motor only replaced another and the free space, also a part of the luggage compartment, was filled with batteries.