"Is driving a good or a bad thing to do?" This is the question asked by Professor Ulrich van Suntum, Director of the Institute of Spatial and Housing Economics at theUniversity of Münster. At the International Engine Congress 2019, he will present the discussion of emissions, particulate matter pollution and drive technologies of the future from an economic perspective, and also points to the downside of electromobility. His goal: "discussing the best technology – without ideologies".

In a preliminary interview with the VDI Wissensforum, van Suntum explains: "The costs and risks of electromobility are deliberately masked out by car opponents in order to put an end to the internal combustion engine. The electric car is by no means emission-free, as long as half of our electricity comes from gas and coal power plants. If you wanted to switch to electromobility with green electricity, we would either have to return to nuclear power or driving would simply be unaffordable."

In his opinion, neither politics nor the economy decide on the future type of drive, whether it is fuel cells or even hybrid solutions made of several types of drives.

For Wolfgang Maus, too, both drive types are justified in terms of functionality, economy and fulfilment of environmental requirements. "In our industry, we should not engage in pros and cons of e-mobility or combustion engines without reliable data," says Maus. He is one of the leading emission experts and managing director of WM Engineering & Consulting (Bergisch-Gladbach). In his preliminary interview, he gives an outlook on current political developments, which will also characterize the International Engine Congress 2019 in Baden-Baden.

The International Engine Congress 2019, organized by the VDI Wissensforum and ATZlive, is once again based on three thematic pillars: car and commercial vehicle engine technology and innovative alternative fuels. This creates a special technical and thematic depth. The aim is to focus on the overall engine system and to exploit synergies for drive development.

Important note for press representatives!
Experts will also be discussing the future of the combustion engine at the exclusive press conference this year. The press conference will take place on 26 February 2019. Further information will follow shortly. For accreditation.

Registration and program at https://www.vdi-wissensforum.de/en/engine-congress/ as well as at the VDI Wissensforum customer service, Postbox 10 11 39, 40002 Duesseldorf, E-Mail: wissensforum@vdi.de, Telephone: +49 211 6214-201, Telefax: -154.

Your contact at the VDI Wissensforum:
Anne Bieler-Brockmann M.A.
Project Manager International Engine Congress
Phone: +49 211 6214-225
Telefax: +49 211 62 14-97 -225
E-Mail: bieler-brockmann@vdi.de