The urgent challenges of protecting the climate and reducing air pollution are causing a paradigm shift in the automotive industry. Powertrains must be considered more than ever before as an integrated system consisting of an engine, a transmission and electrification. Over the next decade of automotive engineering, the combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor will gain unprecedented importance. In order to develop hybrid powertrains in diffe­rent markets and for different vehicle segments, it is vital to master the overall system beyond the component level.

One of the focal points of the 12th International MTZ Conference on “The Powertrain of Tomorrow” will be energy sources, in particular optimized fuels. The mobility revolution cannot be successfully completed without intelligent interaction between electrification and synthetic fuels. Electric components, and above all batteries and motors, are another major topic at the conference. Batteries, which play such a key role in electrification, must be designed to be robust, but without neglecting their cost and ecological footprint. Hybrid drive systems span the range from 48-volt to high-voltage technology, thus opening up new possibilities for all vehicle segments. For that reason, the overall electric system is also one of the central topics. We cover all areas from 48-volt concepts to the fuel cell.