As electric vehicles are gaining recognition as a means of transport, the up-coming E-Mobilia World conference in Kuala Lumpur will bring some 200 experts to address issues relating to sustainable mobility development, implementation and adoption.
To be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Sept 10-11, E-Mobilia World is organised by Koelnmesse and co-organised by Malaysian Green Technology Corp.
E-Mobilia World 2015 is held together with the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM), which runs from Sept 9 to 12.
CarSifu spoke to Koelnmesse vice-president Asia Pacific and managing director Michael Dreyer on what’s in store.
Why is Kuala Lumpur chosen for E-Mobilia World since Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) market is small?
Dreyer: Malaysia has been the home of E-Mobilia World since its inaugural edition and will continue to be so in the years ahead. This was a decision we made in recognition of Malaysia’s strategic location in the heart of Asean which has a total population of over 600 million and combined estimate Gross Domestic Product of US$2.6 trillion (RM10.4 trillion).
Moreover the centralised locations enables industry leaders from all across the region to converge at one easy location.
Beyond this, Malaysia was chosen because of the strong potential of its mobility sector, thanks to the nation’s ambitious goals of becoming an energy efficient vehicle hub for the region.
Out of the major automotive players in the Asean region, Malaysia has shown substantial dedication to this cause by easing restrictions for foreign investors in its auto market and increasing commitment towards incorporating green transport into its public transport system.
We recognise that the EV market in Malaysia is still in its infancy.
With increasing government support and potential policy changes the Malaysian EV market could be in for a significant boom in the near future.
On top of that, we must remember that E-Mobilia World is not just about EVs but on all smart, energy efficient vehicles. As such, our conferences centre on the future of mobility be it electric, hydrogen fuel cell, hybrid or energy efficient fuel vehicles.
How was the response to the previous two E-Mobilia Worlds?
The response and support for E-Mobilia World is steadily growing.
There is a paradigm shift occurring globally with more and more countries adopting sustainable means of transport. As the prominence of these types of vehicles increase so will the relevance and popularity of E-Mobilia World.
We began E-Mobilia World in 2013 with 100 delegates from across the world.
Last year, we increased this to 150 delegates.
This year, thanks to increased interest in the sector and our strategic partnership with the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2015, we are confident of garnering even greater response.
How would you rate the overall outcome over the last two years?
We are very pleased with the progress E-Mobilia World has made since its inaugural conference in 2013. No other event in this region has been able to bring together such a diverse and world-spanning group of industry experts.
We are confident that E-Mobilia World’s topical presentations and high-level discussions have inspired many in the automotive industry to venture into eco-friendly transport and increased the conversation on policy change that will enable greater market growth and adoption rates.
Why should Malaysians attend E-Mobilia World?
Malaysians should attend E-Mobilia World as they will be exposed to insights from key implementers, industry experts and policy makers who are driving progress in this sector.
By attending the conference, participants gain access to a unique opportunity to take a glimpse at the future of the transport sector.
E-Mobilia World is a melting pot of industry leaders and policy makers, a perfect avenue to help shape the future of the industry and help position Malaysia as a hub for this sector. Participants will be able to take part in discussions on high-level topics that could reshape the EV industry in the region.
Michael Dreyer
Who is your target audience?
As a conference which largely focuses on policy making, strategy development and the sharing of new innovations, E-Mobilia World targets top-level executives as well as leaders of public and private organisations.
In essence, our target audience is decision makers and influencers, be these from the Government, local councils, the automotive industry or private organisations.
Of course, a large portion of our audience will comprise automotive players, however we are also expecting delegates from technology developers and providers, Government officials, research institutes and financial institutions.
What do you hope to achieve through this conference?
E-Mobilia World was established with the aim of becoming the number one destination for knowledge sharing and discussion on sustainable mobility.
We envision E-Mobilia World as a catalyst to drive conversation and interest in the sector, inspiring the incorporation of these technologies into daily lives.
On top of this, we hope that the conference will provide a platform for robust discussions that will pave the way for industry-wide cooperation which will ultimately see increased benefits for the public at large.
We are also confident that the unique networking opportunities that E-Mobilia World offers will lead to new business prospects that will drive the sector contribution to the economy.
Why is it being held alongside IGEM – which is a trade show?
This year, E-Mobilia World will be held in conjunction with IGEM for the first time.
We believe this is a perfect partnership which will bring synergistic benefits to both events.
IGEM is an established trade show focusing on all facets of green technology, including transportation, attracting key industry players and decision makers the world over.
E-Mobilia World has similar international pull and we are confident that the combined efforts and our shared vision of energy-efficient, carbon neutral transportation will deliver greater value for delegates and visitors alike.
You have speakers from Norway and other EU countries. How relevant are their experiences to the Malaysian or Asean scenario?
Norway is recognised as the world leader in terms of EV adoption, with approximately 30% of all vehicles sold being EVs.
This commendable feat was achieved through a strategic combination of policy incentives, industry collaboration and consumer participation.
In order to establish a thriving EV market, every country will have to strike a similarly conducive balance.
The insights from successful implementers such as Norway can prove to be vital for Asean as its EV market is still in its infancy.
With adequate tailoring many of the strategic steps initiated by Norway can be applied to this region with great success.
Who are the Malaysian automotive industry stakeholders attending?
Some of the prominent local representatives include automotive manufacturers such as Proton and Perodua, EV car-sharing operators COMOS as well as public sector influencers such as the Malaysia Automotive Institute and Malaysian Green Technology Corporation.
We will be featuring international automotive experts and leaders from BMW, Audi, Mazda and Hyundai as well as representatives from research institutions such as Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis; Imperial College London and delegates from the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association and the US Department of Energy.
On top of this, we are also looking to attract participants from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and even a contingent that is being organised by the Asian Development Bank.
From the confirmed list of speakers, who in your opinion are the key speakers and why?
The 3rd E-Mobilia World is set to feature prominent industry experts from all around the world presenting on topical sustainable transport issues such as electric mobility, best practice policies and deployment, eco-vehicle tax structures, consumer acceptance strategies, autonomous vehicles, vehicle sharing and other cutting edge concepts.
These are some of the key presentations that you can look forward to at E-Mobilia World this year:
> Dr Tom Turrentine, Director, Plug in Hybrid & EV Research Centre Institute of Transportation Studies
> Andreas Klugescheid, Head of Steering Government, External Affairs and Sustainability BMW Group AG
> Rune Hole, Marketing Director, Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association(Norsk Elbilforening)
> Seiji Miyoshi, Research Manager, Electrical and Chemical Energy Research, Technical Research Centre Mazda Motor Corp
Keyword: Moving to the next level with green technology