International View

Jonas Hansson: Considers alternative powertrains from a Swedish perspective

But the situation is entirely different outside Sweden’s major cities. I happen to come from a rural region. Diesels still reign supreme there. We are a thinly populated country. Many commuters travel as much as150 kilometers (93 miles) to work every day. And people are skeptical as to whether batteries can actually handle these distances during a cold winter. Facts are little help here. Indeed, in Northern Sweden, where people drive long distances, pure battery vehicles will not meet the needs and expectations. In any case, the government is still very committed to the issue. There are discounts on electric cars, and the number of charging stations is expected to double. Sustainability, energy and climate are also hot topics in Sweden. You are surely at least somewhat familiar with a Swede named Greta. The diesel scandal in particular has sparked debates in this country over vehicle powertrains.

But it’s also clear that Sweden can hardly manage this kind of future-oriented topic by itself. We need the support of other Europeans. We also haven’t made much progress in fuel cells. There are only five hydrogen filling stations in Sweden. Alternative powertrain systems are the future, but infrastructure will be the crucial issue. A great deal will depend on it.