Shell announced the appointment of its new chief scientist for mobility, Wolfgang Warnecke on the opening day of this year’s Challenge Bibendum event in Berlin. He talked to Simon Warburton about his new role and the challenges facing the energy giant that is increasingly becoming involved with gas as well as oil.
j-a: What will your principle role be at Shell as chief scientist for mobility?
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WW: To ensure we are all aligned, to ensure links and partnerships are established with industry, especially with the automotive industry around the world, but also dealing with suppliers such as Bosch, Delphi and Valeo [for example]. To be the central knot, to try and make sure we maximise product development so it is long-lasting and sustainable.
j-a: To what extent is Shell influenced by government regulations?
WW: I think it is important we have an alliance across the policy makers, automotive industry and transport industry, as well as to a certain extent, the infrastructure. There is an urgent need and requirement to understand each other.
Our view is regulations are always important and useful. At the end of the day, a free trading market has to work and ensure new technology will be successful. Regulations should be facts-based and not political, that is important. That is why it is so important for us and our partners in the automotive industry to explain what is possible and what is not. It is our duty to educate those policy makers who are usually not specialist in areas they are working on.
j-a: Does the internal combustion engine have a limited shelf life now?
WW: ICEs will be here a long time in the future. Based on today’s knowledge and understanding, there is good reason to have ICEs in 2050 because there is enormous development potential in terms of efficiency linked to emissions reduction. The public is not aware what can be done for ICEs.
In miles per gallon there may not be a visible, dramatic reduction, but if you take today’s engines in yesterday’s bodyshells, the development is very visible. You see what we can achieve through engine oil, transmission oil, wheel bearing grease and hydraulic fluids. Engines are becoming more and more complex, so therefore they need the right sorts of maintenance – desulphurisation of fuels is a challenge.
j-a: Do you view the emergence of new propulsion systems as challenging for Shell?
WW: We take every new drive train as an opportunity because there will be huge demand. There will be more difficult requirements in the future simply to fulfill all the demand of mobility. We don’t see it as a threat, we see it as an opportunity.
