COP24: Aluminium well placed to support the transition to e-mobility
Date
11 Dec 2018
Sections
Climate & Environment
Katowice (Poland), 11 December 2018 – “The European aluminium industry is well placed to support the transition to electromobility,” says Patrik Ragnarsson, European Aluminium’s automotive and transport expert at the World Climate Summit 2018, an official side event of the UN climate change conference COP24 in Katowice, Poland.
“Road transport contributes about one-fifth of the EU's total CO2 emissions. EU legislation can help to dramatically lower this figure. However, this legislation must go hand in hand with massive investments in charging infrastructure on an EU, national and local level. Today there is a huge imbalance in the distribution of charging points across Europe that can only be addressed by targeted investments.”
Patrik Ragnarsson participated in a panel debate on e-mobility infrastructure plans and implementation across Europe together with representatives from the City of Oslo, Volkswagen, the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting and McKinsey&Co. In the debate, Ragnarsson stressed the importance of EU legislation in setting up a long-term framework towards an electromobility future but cautioned ambitious legislation must happen in parallel with investments in charging infrastructure.
Aluminium is used to lightweight vehicles, which offsets the weight of batteries to extend the range of electric vehicles. Battery boxes made of aluminium help keep the battery cool or warm in cold weather and prevents failures and leaks in case of a crash. Thanks to its high strength and durability, aluminium is also the material of choice for charging poles and cables supporting energy transfer. Not to mention, aluminium is a permanent material which is infinitely recyclable.
“As the electricity grid decarbonises and we shift to electromobility, the carbon footprint of the car production process will become more important. Europe has already shown its capabilities to produce high quality, low carbon mobility solutions produced under high environmental, health and safety standards. It is important not only for the environment but also for employment and competitiveness to ensure that we have a holistic industrial policy in place securing that we can support this new value chain with European production,” concludes Ragnarsson.
About European Aluminium:
European Aluminium, founded in 1981 and based in Brussels, is the voice of the aluminium industry in Europe. We actively engage with decision makers and the wider stakeholder community to promote the outstanding properties of aluminium, secure growth and optimise the contribution our metal can make to meeting Europe’s sustainability challenges. Through environmental and technical expertise, economic and statistical analysis, scientific research, education and sharing of best practices, public affairs and communication activities, European Aluminium promotes the use of aluminium as a material with permanent properties that is part of the solution to achieving sustainable goals, while maintaining and improving the image of the industry, of the material and of its applications among their stakeholders. Our 80+ members include primary aluminium producers; downstream manufacturers of extruded, rolled and cast aluminium; producers of recycled aluminium and national aluminium associations are representing more than 600 plants in 30 European countries. Aluminium products are used in a wide range ofmarkets, including automotive, transport, high-tech engineering, building, construction and packaging.