Will soaring fuel costs make eMobility mass market? – with Marcel Rümenapf

Recorded at the historic Berlin campus of technology and
engineering giant Siemens, this week’s episode explores why
Europe’s logistics industry is rapidly accelerating towards
electrification – driven not only by decarbonization goals, but
increasingly by energy security, operational resilience, and cost
control.


We’re joined by Marcel Rümenapf, Head of Sales
for eMobility Europe at Siemens, to unpack how rising fossil fuel
prices, dynamic electricity markets, and improving EV technology
are transforming fleet economics for businesses across Europe.
The conversation explores why logistics operators are now viewing
electrification as a strategic advantage, particularly as
electricity offers opportunities for smart charging, on-site
solar integration, and far greater control over energy costs when
compared with fossil fuels like diesel.


A major focus of the discussion is how the complexity of
large-scale fleet charging can be overcome. Marcel explains the
ways in which smart charging software is becoming essential for
managing depots with hundreds of electric buses or trucks that
are balancing grid constraints, fast-changing wholesale
electricity price dynamics, charging schedules, and operational
requirements in real time.


The episode also explores the increasingly important role of
stationary battery storage at logistics hubs, both for supporting
charging infrastructure and in auxiliary applications such as the
participation in electricity balancing markets.


We also discuss the future of electric trucks versus hydrogen,
why fleet operators are beginning with phased pilot projects
before scaling, and how electrification could even help logistics
companies attract drivers by improving the driving experience
itself.


️ Questions or feedback? Write us at
podcast@thesmartere.com