We are delighted to present a Q&A session with Heiner Sprunk, a distinguished expert in business development and e-mobility. Mr Sprunk is currently the Business Development Director for Europe at Irdeto B.V., where he leads initiatives in the emobility sector. His extensive career spans over two decades, during which he has held various pivotal roles such as Director D-A-CH at Last Mile Solutions B.V. and International Sales Manager at has to be GmbH. Mr. Sprunk's achievements include successful business ventures across Europe, the MENA region, and Asia, as well as significant contributions to major projects in the utilities sector. In this session, Mr Sprunk shares his insights on the future of e-mobility, strategies for business development, and the importance of international networking and innovation.

#LEVS: What factors do you believe are driving the rapid growth and adoption of electric vehicles across Europe, and what challenges do you foresee in sustaining this momentum?

#Heiner Sprunk: In my opinion, the most important driver of e-mobility is the positive customer experience. Driving a car that produces no emissions, is pure driving pleasure and can be easily charged almost anywhere is simply "state of the art". However, I see the current political and social conditions as problematic, as they have delayed the ramp-up of e-mobility in recent years.

#LEVS: How do you see the current state of EV charging infrastructure in Europe, and what key improvements or innovations are needed to support the next wave of EV adoption?

#Heiner Sprunk: Starting from Central and Northern Europe, it can be estimated that the charging infrastructure that has been built so far largely meets the needs of electric car drivers and will be further expanded in the coming years. In parts of Southern and Eastern Europe, this development is well underway and will also expand from the main roads to cover the entire area.

We are currently seeing a competition between different charging technologies. This will decide in favour of the most user-friendly. But it will still be a few years before that happens, as technological developments are currently moving at a rapid pace.

#LEVS: What recent technological advancements in EV batteries and charging systems do you find most promising, and how might these innovations impact the future of electric mobility?

#Heiner Sprunk: The progressive increase in the energy density of batteries, coupled with powerful charging electronics in the car and in the charging stations, will make charging electric vehicles ever more customer-friendly and faster. New material combinations play just as much of a role here as, for example, new energy transmitter approaches within the battery packs. Sooner or later, charging will be faster than refuelling...

#LEVS: How have governmental policies and regulations influenced the development and expansion of the EV industry in Europe, and what further actions are needed to accelerate the transition to electric mobility?

#Heiner Sprunk: This is a very difficult topic, as unfortunately there is no uniform European idea here, but there are still too many fragmented, country-specific regulations. Fortunately, there have been many government incentive projects in the past to get e-mobility up and running. At the moment, however, there is a noticeable hesitation in many countries, apparently also due to the political pressure of the recently happened European elections. However, I am firmly convinced that the right decisions will be made in the future.

#LEVS: In your view, how has consumer perception of electric vehicles changed in recent years, and what strategies are most effective in addressing common concerns such as range anxiety and charging availability?

#Heiner Sprunk: Perception changes through experience! The more people drive electric vehicles, the more positive their opinion is in the mainstream. Unfortunately, there are still populist opinion makers who try to misrepresent the reality of electromobility with platitudes. However, as the e-mobility user community grows, these opinion makers are losing their breeding ground.

#LEVS: How do events like the London EV Show contribute to the advancement of the electric vehicle industry, and what benefits do they provide to companies, stakeholders, and consumers involved in eMobility?

#Heiner Sprunk: Events like the London EV Show are an excellent showcase for opening up the latest possibilities and technical developments to a wide range of visitors. It is important, however, that these events are not "class reunions" but attract visitors who either still have doubts or are specifically looking for answers.