Under the banner Future of Power – The Quest for the Next Gen Powertrains, Porsche Consulting brought together leaders from across the specialty vehicles ecosystem to discuss how powertrain transformation is reshaping competitiveness in sectors such as agriculture, construction, material handling, trailers, as well as emergency and leisure vehicles.
The event opened with Holger Streitz, Managing Director at Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH, sharing an industrial OEM perspective on the transformation of powertrain portfolios. His contribution focused on the practical opportunities and constraints companies face when evolving powertrain strategies – balancing innovation speed, operational robustness, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations in demanding real-world applications.
Building on this foundation, a panel discussion featuring Dr. Lilian Schwich, CEO of cylib GmbH, Tim Böltken, CEO of INERATEC GmbH, Otmar Bitsche, Senior Advisor at Porsche Consulting, and Holger Streitz, Managing Director at Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH, explored where next-generation powertrains are headed. The exchange highlighted different technology pathways, from circular battery value chains and synthetic fuels to system-level energy ecosystems, emphasizing that no single solution will fit all specialty vehicle use cases.
Across the discussions, speakers aligned on several key industry themes: Powertrain strategies are essential for C-level agendas because they affect every function within the organization. At the same time, these strategies must be tailored to specific applications and work cycles. Looking ahead, it is also becoming evident that multiple technologies will coexist over the coming decades. Furthermore, it is important to address sustainability, scalability, and economic viability together.