It is understandable that the departure from the fossil-based economic system cannot be achieved overnight and is a task that spans generations, given the enormous challenges that this major transformation entails. But precisely because of the sheer size of this transformative process, there is always the danger that decision-makers in politics and industry will be content to take small steps for fear of severe dislocations resulting from the decline of formerly flourishing sectors and companies.
Because the climate change poses an immediate threat to the livelihoods of future generations, we all need to think further and bigger today to make the transition to a sustainable society more quickly. After all, the past also teaches us those major transformations naturally go hand in hand with huge changes.
Let’s take just one example from the recent past. The digital revolution, which can certainly be compared to the industrial revolution at the end of the 18th century in terms of the potential for change it harbors, has, in addition to the manifold facilitations and improvements for mankind, also resulted in great challenges for industries that were believed to survive any economically indicated crisis only a short time ago. With the awakening of the share principle, the classic hotel industry and the taxi industry are forced to generate new sources of added value to stand a chance against the new top dogs such as Airbnb or Uber. This makes it even more important for yesterday’s market leaders to learn quickly from the new champions and, ideally, to join forces in order to continue to grow together by complementing each other and sharing their respective expertise.
Fortunately, after some initial hesitation, the car manufacturers – so extremely important for Germany in particular – have decided not only to accept the turn towards zero-emission mobility, but to proactively support it. Without the support of our partners from the automotive industry, a company like Hubject would not have come out of the garage at all.
And because nowadays the really big things only work if everyone pulls together, now, after the industry, the politicians have also finally decided to help a sustainable technology achieve a final breakthrough with completely new framework conditions. Especially in this country, as an advocate and driver of e-mobility, I hope that the new government will work faster and more efficiently than its predecessors in terms of new infrastructure. Here, one had the impression that some sensible and socially desired adjustments could not yet have the desired effect due to an obvious diffusion of responsibility. Furthermore, in view of an increasingly narrow time window, it is important to think far beyond national borders and to establish an internationally functioning eMobility ecosystem. The establishment of the world’s largest charging network, which we have continuously built and expanded over the past years together with our partners from the energy, technology and automotive sectors, proves that this works.
Anyone interested in how we can move forward in the future without unduly burdening our planet and its inhabitants is cordially invited to attend the intercharge network conference (ICNC) in Berlin, which will bring together the decision-makers and thought leaders of our industry for the tenth time in September. Of course, this B2B event will also be available online this year, but despite all caution, I hope to welcome even more of our partners and representatives from politics and business in person in Berlin.
