Diesel still has another 10-15 years of shelf life

Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Trucks says the company will continue to beton diesel engines for now, with hydrogen and electric as next priorities. Ketan Thakkar has the story.

-  Ketan Thakkar

Even as the shift towards electrification gains Imomentum the world over, Martin Daum, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding AG - the world's largest truck maker says, "Diesel has another 10 years, if not 15 years of life (ahead)."

The maker of Bharat Benz Trucks, therefore, will be investing in another round of diesel engines to meet the transportation needs of its core market.

Daum, who was in India to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of selling Bharat Benz trucks, agrees that if one wants to save the globe from climate change the need is to aim for zero-emission strategies. But that requires a real revolution in electricity generation, transmission and distribution not only in India but even in the US and Europe which are in short supply at present, he said.

"You may have the best electric battery and trucks, but using coal as a source of energy will heat up the planet more than a diesel truck," he said.

According to Daum, there is a need to double or triple the power generation capacity around the world. "You are meeting only 20-30 percent of the requirements at present. And even once you build the capacity to generate power, it is difficult to transport and store it," he said.

Daum says even solar and wind power are unreliable sources in Germany. So the hydrogen fuel cell appears to be a more practical solution for the future. On its part, Daimler Truck is adopting three strategies at present.

"We still feel diesel has another 10-15 years of life ahead, therefore we are investing in another round of diesel engines; we know we have the best diesel engines for the heavy-duty segment. Second, we will make electric trucks step by step, but it is significantly more expensive. Number three, we believe, hydrogen is the only way to transport and store clean energy," explained Daum.