Sector coupling is the key to many public events addressing the energy transition. Quite regularly, the discussion circles around the question, how to establish an electricity lead heat market. This is understandable against the background of an ever more insistently demanded phasing out of coal. Because coal plants are the main source of heat in the existing system. Consequently, the question, how wind- and photovoltaics can do the job, arises. The quantitative question is o.k. But does it lead to sufficient results?
When coupling traffic with electricity from wind and photovoltaic the formula “using electricity instead of gasoline” is but too simple. Because some of the modes of transport, in particular those in need to store the required traction energy in accumulators, can be used for much more than additional power consumption, of course.
When considering electrified transport, sector coupling must be thought through systematically . The activation of the storage potential of millions of already required traction batteries, represents a fundamental contribution to the success of the energy transition.
To implement this systemic potential in competing, self-interested, concerns is hardly to be achieved. It therefor is a political mission, to develop the strategic elements of the transformation. Likewise, Germany and Europe can set e-mobility standards, if systematically coupled with targets of a strategic energy transition. It is obvious, to expand the only recently started European cell production. A European standard for traction batteries reshuffles the cards in the global game for lead in e-mobility.
If we continue to operate electric mobility with permanently installed traction batteries and public or private power points in order to to charge batteries only, its great technical and economic potential will hardly be tapped, however.