Delegates at the South African Automotive Week (SAAW) Conference 2011 being held in East London later this month will be going off the beaten track to explore new technologies and ideas, including using hydrogen as fuel, and how e-mobility is changing the automotive sector.
“Green Machines: Risks and Opportunities” is being hosted in East London on August 25 and August 26 as a precursor to the SAAW 2012, which takes place in Port Elizabeth from October 10 to October 13, 2012.
SAAW 2012, includes an International Trade Show and several days of activities for the global automotive sector interested in Africa.
“One of the many challenges facing the auto industry is what is known as ‘disruptive technologies’ – like alternative fuels and electrically powered vehicles. For the South African auto industry to grow and even survive, we need to understand the far-reaching impact of this new technology,” says SAAW convenor Andrew Binning.
One of the speakers at the conference is nuclear scientist Bob Bond, who will be discussing the development of hydrogen transportation – based on the experience of building and operating an internationally acclaimed hydrogen trike at South Africa’s Resource Driven Technology Concept Centre (Retecza).
“Hydrogen is one of the fuels of the future, and South Africa has an opportunity to be at the leading edge of developments in this technology. This will put our local automotive industry in a stronger position to compete globally,” says Binning.
“The Green Economy and the introduction of “green machines” to our cities is changing societal patterns, behaviours and shaping an entirely new business landscape. – in fact the automotive industry as we know it.
The Conference is part of the Eastern Cape Province‘s strategy to support and grow the automotive sector.
Binning said economists, OEM MD’s and experts like Andreas Rechel from the German p3-group would present “mind blowing scenarios that would equip manufacturers and the transport industry with insight into the future.”
More information is available at www.saaw.co.za
