Around 17 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2024, which includes both purely battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids. This represents a year-on-year increase of 25%, while the figure for China, as the front runner, is as high as 40%. Today, close to one in five cars sold worldwide is electrically powered. ElringKlinger was quick to position itself as a specialist in electromobility and can now look back on more than a decade of experience as a series supplier in the field of battery technology. Our portfolio includes the latest generation of cell contacting systems in various configurations – tailored precisely to customer requirements. Large-scale series production takes place at several sites around the globe, the emphasis being on process reliability, cost streamlining, and best-in-class quality. Building on these capabilities, we are well prepared when it comes to further expanding our market position around the globe and accelerating electromobility in partnership with our customers.

The global transportation sector accounts for more than seven billion tons of carbon emissions every year. After passenger transport, freight haulage is the second largest polluter on the roads at just under 30%. Other pollutants include nitrogen oxides and particulates. In this case, drive systems powered by fuel cells offer several advantages: extended range; short refueling time; the possibility of expanding existing filling station networks with hydrogen pumps; water vapor as the only exhaust emission; and full carbon neutrality, provided the production of hydrogen used to refuel the vehicle is based on electricity from renewable energy sources. Through its joint venture EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, the ElringKlinger Group supplies fuel cell stacks boasting high power density, durability, and efficiency. They are manufactured on the basis of highly automated and cost-effective processes, a particular emphasis being on heavy-duty applications. One thing is clear: commercial vehicles play an essential role when it comes to decarbonization and climate-friendly mobility.

Less weight translates into an extended range for electric vehicles and reduced fuel consumption for other types of drive system. Lightweight construction thus represents a key technology in the automotive industry and other sectors, especially when it comes to achieving ambitious climate action targets. Here, too, ElringKlinger is able to excel, drawing on its systems expertise and delivering customized solutions of the highest quality. Among the prime examples are cockpit cross-car beams based on plastic-metal hybrid technology, ElroSafe™ underbody shieldings and structural housing components for battery or hydrogen-powered vehicles, metallic ElroForm™ battery or inverter covers, balancing discs in weight- and cost-optimized designs, and sealing systems with additional integrated functions. The focus is on weight reduction, design flexibility, functional integration and optimization, robustness, recyclability, and efficiency. It's about “making light work” of mobility challenges – for a sustainable future.

Phased plan, fleet limits, fines, ban on combustion engines, e-fuels – the EU has set itself the clear goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050. Debate is still ongoing as to the most appropriate path to take and how to adapt the EU's framework. In this context, transparency and calculability are essential. Public discourse is also centered on the possibility of taking a technology-agnostic approach to the transformation process within the automotive industry. For example, e-fuels, i.e., synthetic fuels produced by harnessing renewable forms of energy, could pave the way for decarbonizing millions of existing vehicles equipped with conventional combustion engines as well as new vehicles. Several major automotive companies have now adapted their strategy in an effort to establish a broad and flexible presence. What does this mean for ElringKlinger? Be it electric, hybrid, or conventional drive systems, we can draw on decades of extensive expertise and offer customized solutions in the fields of battery and fuel cell technology, electric drives, sealing systems, metal forming, and lightweighting. In addition, many of our components, e.g., for the vehicle body or interior, are essentially drive-independent. Furthermore, we provide an extensive range of spare parts for the aftermarket. Our aspiration is, and will always be, to supply key components and systems for the mobility of the present and the future.