The Route in Memory of Bertha Benz is a road that goes from the German city of Mannheim to Pforzheim. There are large vineyards of white grapes and other more colorful ones, intensely green mountain ranges that are clouded over in some seasons by the early mornings, and some cows and horses here and there.
It is emblematic as it marked the first long journey by car powered by liquid fuel, and by the ingenuity of a woman. It was in 1888 when, without telling anyone, this 39-year-old German woman traveled over 100 kilometers with her two children, testing the vehicle that her husband, Karl Benz, was manufacturing. The revolution in transportation and energy was beginning.
The generation and use of energy through petroleum-derived fuels and gas marked an important milestone in the development of the world, compared to the use of agriculture that domesticated humans, the mastery of fire, the use of a common language, and the utilization of materials such as limestone, copper, and iron.
Life expectancy in the time of the Benz family was around 30-40 years. Infectious diseases, poor sanitary conditions in homes, and limited medical attention meant that old age did not exist. A family could only preserve food through drying and salting, altering diets in times of hostile weather and causing poor nutrient intake. There was limited access to lighting, to a warm home, and cooking was not always possible. Candles and whale oil lamps – which encouraged the indiscriminate hunting of cetaceans – were some of their only sources.
Members of a household had to make long, slow, and unsafe journeys to go to another city or country using their feet, horses, or animal-drawn carts. For example, the time it took a person to travel from Bogotá to Chía in a horse-drawn cart is the same as someone today takes to go from Bogotá to Mexico City in a device powered by aviation fuel.
The world has changed and improved since fuels have been used. According to CEPAL, there is a positive relationship between energy consumption per capita and life expectancy in Latin American and Caribbean countries. In Colombia, we have gained several decades in the last 100 years thanks in part to liquids that power everything from electricity generators to food trucks and airplanes.
However, progress has come at a cost: since 1960, the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen from 317 to 421 parts per million, highlighting the need for a transition to less carbon-intensive systems, adding renewable content to traditional energies and innovating in new efficient alternatives. The relentless rush has led to high expectations for electric vehicles that have not been met due to the costs and environmental impact of their production, recalling the first bad experience in 1900, when there were more electric cars in New York than gasoline ones, but their low competitiveness and reliability eliminated them from the market.
While innovations arrive in an affordable and environmentally friendly version, Colombia must ensure the necessary energy for more than 7 million vehicle owners, 11.5 million motorcyclists, over 180,000 households benefiting from electricity generation with diesel, and more than 40 million passengers in aircraft consuming ‘jet fuel’.
The Colombian Association of Oil and Gas reported a few days ago that the total demand for these energy sources could grow on average 1.8% each year, demonstrating that they will be needed for much longer, hopefully with a greater mix of biofuels and without subsidies. For the good of the development of the population, the planet, and the economy.
Energy has driven, moved, illuminated, and generated progress in the last century. It is necessary to look back to move forward, and to continue on this journey of energy transition along a path that prioritizes the energy security of the country and the well-being of all.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas