What drives us

With its dual strategy, MAHLE is preparing for the future of mobility. The electric drive and the combustion engine are both set to play an important role in this future. The target of climate neutrality in 2050 means putting an end to fossil fuels but doesn’t necessarily signal the end of the combustion engine. Read here what the drive mix of the future means for you and your workshop.

The future is electric, but not purely battery powered. For long distances and transporting heavy loads, the fuel cell comes into play. Incidentally, it was invented before the combustion engine. Now, the technology is ready. In a vehicle’s fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen from the air. This produces electricity for charging the traction battery as well as water and heat. The thermal, air, and liquid management of fuel cells is very similar to that of combustion engines, and therefore aligns precisely with our core competence. We’re already developing a comprehensive, modular systems portfolio for fuel cells.

With e-fuels, a combustion engine only emits as much CO2 as was bound during its production. E-fuels are synthetic fuels, produced from water and carbon dioxide (CO2) using electricity. But what about compatibility of the various synthetic fuels with the engine components and filters? MAHLE teamed up with a well-known German vehicle manufacturer to investigate this. And the results were positive: admixture of these fuels in line with existing fuel standards had no impact on the MAHLE components that were tested or on engine performance. This opens up a wealth of possibilities for using these fuels. MAHLE assumes that an e-fuel admixture of up to 20 percent is possible with current fuels.

Fuels can also be obtained from renewable raw materials such as oil plants, cereals, beets, and wood. To create biofuels, hydrogen (H2) is extracted from water (H2O). This hydrogen is then processed with carbon dioxide (CO2) into a liquid fuel such as bio natural gas or biomethane. One advantage of these fuels is the closed CO2 loop, which integrates fuel extraction seamlessly into our natural ecosystem without causing damage. So, the future won’t be shaped by one “right” type of drive—but by a diversified drive mix with different possibilities for different applications. We intend to discuss the drive mix of the future objectively, remaining open to all technologies, and use every lever at our disposal to “defossilize” our mobility.

If you want to repair modern vehicles with alternative drives in the future, you need two key things: spare parts and expertise. As an original equipment manufacturer, MAHLE is geared toward the mobility transformation, and that includes its aftermarket portfolio—with its high level of availability and top quality. MAHLE also supports you with a wealth of services and information, including diagnostic tools and service units, training, and repair and maintenance information (RMI).