Electricity with Christian Buric alias "Dr. E

In the series "Stromern mit..." we already spoke with celebrity chef Holger Stromberg, actor Peter Lohmeyer and organic entrepreneur Josef Zotter. For the current episode, I arranged to meet Christian Buric at an unusual location...

The underground car park of the ADAC headquarters has something of the fluidity of a film noir, especially when it is not heavily frequented, as is the case between holidays when we meet Dr Christian Buric here. I remember my first contact with him: in 2008, when only a few people were talking about electric mobility, the communicator, content creator and electric car aficionado started at ADAC. On his very second day at work, he contacted me to talk about ADAC car insurance. At the time, I was compiling an overview of the benefits of various insurance policies on the topic of alternative drives for my magazine at the time, "Ecomobil". The car insurance of the club, quite progressive at that time, already had suitable rates for electric cars, but also for natural gas drive and for LPG cars.

Meeting place with depth

Spotlights, light-dark contrasts and e-bike test rides on the almost empty visitor deck set the scene for our underground meeting. Christian Buric had just returned from a test ride with the Polestar 2 64 KWH Standard Range Single Motor. At that moment, I jump back in my mind: in 2008, when he started as a press spokesman at ADAC, he also immediately took care of projects to set up charging infrastructure for e-cars nationwide, namely at ADAC offices and the club's driving safety centres. This was a project management task that involved establishing a productive dialogue between property owners, energy companies and ADAC regional clubs. "Actually, though, I was hired as a technical editor" confesses Buric. He then took up the job of editor and press spokesperson for ADAC somewhat late due to project management. In the time that followed, as more and more media enquiries about electromobility came to ADAC, he was given the nickname "Dr. E".

Electrifying key experience

His key electrifying experience, however, did not follow until 2013, when he proposed a reportage on Croatia to the ADAC travel magazine. Content: "With the Tesla to Tesla". More precisely: with the Model S to the birthplace of the physicist and inventor Nikola Tesla. Until today, only a few people know that Nikola Tesla is the discoverer of alternating current and that many other related innovations such as radio and radar are also closely related to the ingenious visionary. The hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls on the American-Canadian border would also have been inconceivable without Nikola Tesla. But let's move on to the present: the touring vehicle for the tour had just arrived on the German market. And: The trip turned out to be a real challenge, as there were no charging stations in Croatia on the planned route to the inventor's birthplace. Nikola Tesla was born in 1856 in the Croatian region of Lika - at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - an area from which Christian's father also comes. "What I am a little proud of," says "Dr. E", "is that I was the first to drive the Tesla to Tesla's home. That is also officially documented in the local museum in Smiljan. I was a few months earlier than a journalist colleague from Austria. The latter called me later and said: 'Congratulations, very good, you were faster'. In retrospect, it felt like a competition, a bit like going around the world in 80 days."

Lightning impulse for Croatian tourism

"Dr. Buric was the initial flash for electric car tourism in Croatia in 2013. To speak of initial spark here would not be technically correct," smiles Romeo Draghicchio, Germany head of the Croatian Tourist Board in Frankfurt am Main. The pioneering trip was extensively reported on Croatian state television and RTL, as well as in the Croatian press. As Christian Buric drove across the border back toward Slovenia, Croatian border officials cheered him on and simply waved him through. "It had something of a folk festival". Perhaps the border guards sensed the arrival of a new electric age. As a result of the ride, the international Nikola Tesla E-Rally, which also has a clear tourist thrust, was inspired and motivated to some extent. The goal of the Croatian organizers of the rally was and is, among other things, to advance the "Green Magistrale" with charging stations along the coast. A lot has happened here. As a result, tourists who come to Croatia by e-car will find much better conditions in terms of infrastructure today than they did a few years ago.

"Christian Buric has done a lot for Croatian tourism, for ADAC, with which we have had particularly intensive relations since 2021, and for the topic of electromobility. This will be remembered when it will perhaps one day be quite normal to come to Croatia by e-car," says Romeo Draghicchio, Managing Director of the Croatian Tourist Board.

A marriage proposal, a tycoon and nightly charge guard

But the key experience was not just the actual trip. The experiences Christian Buric had during the tour are also lasting. He charged the Stromer in Croatia at unusual locations. Because, as I said, charging infrastructure in 2013? No such thing! But: Electricity was available at supermarket delivery ramps, at the campsite or, for example, in a marina in the Kvarner Bay. "In the process, you meet unusual people." A Russian megayacht owner wanted to chase Dr. E away from the power source at the mooring. The tycoon would not see why a car was drawing power at "his" ship's mooring. His playmate and he tried to force Christian Buric off the mooring. However, an intervention by the marina management allowed him to stay and continue charging the car. Another time, the loading assistance was much more cordial. "I got help from many inhabitants of a village at a disused ski lift in the hinterland, in the direction of Plitvice Lakes. Children and adults of the village guarded the Stromer all night and hooked the car up to the tow lift's high-voltage connection." And: in Opatija, Dr. E even got a marriage proposal from an attractive lady in a red summer dress while having an espresso in the street café. When he then confessed that the vehicle was not his property, the unknown beauty "disappeared as quickly as she appeared." Important throughout the journey: the promise of breakdown assistance. Back in 2013, the ADAC international emergency call center in Zagreb assured him of help at any time if anything should happen to the car. Even then, ADAC members with the e-car would have been covered. This species of car tourists just didn't exist eight years ago. That is changing now.

What is the situation with charging stations in Croatia today?

Croatia is popular as a tourist destination. So the idea of the Green Magistrale remains relevant. Electric Circle, a Croatian association of electric car drivers, has initiated a project to install 100,000 e-car charging stations at the end of 2020. Currently, there are about 600 charging stations in Croatia (query from Euractive).

On a diplomatic mission

Southeastern Europe, new mobility and renewable energies have always appealed to Christian Buric. He studied political science and specialized early on in technology assessment, associations and interest groups, the struggle for raw materials and energy, geopolitics, and the states of Southeastern Europe. With diplomatic status, he traveled for the German Foreign Office and the OSCE as an election observer in former war and crisis zones. After receiving his doctorate, he was a political analyst for Radio Free Europe and Jane's Information Group.

Electrified island world

Then he took the path towards PR and corporate communications. Along the way, he continued to write publications that played a role in political consulting and science, for example on the possibilities of electrifying the Croatian islands. In 2003, he wrote about "Tourism and Ecology in Dalmatia. In the renowned "Südosteuropa Mitteilungen", which is supported by scientists, members of parliament, companies and the media. Also a challenge for marketing". If one sees now how strongly renewable energies, above all wind and solar power, are invested in Croatia in the meantime, many considerations of that time may not have been in vain. Also, topics such as sustainable tourism can no longer be ignored by tour operators and hoteliers. "I personally also believe that electric ferries will find their use in the Adriatic. One can take a cue from Scandinavia, among others."

Culinary preferences

So what are the favorite dishes of "Dr. E."? His special preference is called "Saur", a special kind of marinating practiced on the island of Pag. Saur is created mainly from smaller fish such as snout bream, mullet, red bream, pike cod or sardines. Saur to squid with potatoes, fish soup or Novaljski brudit, a kind of fish goulash, is also recommended. And: Saur can also be eaten with freshwater fish, for example with a delicious trout from the Gacka River in the Lika region. The river is located not far from the area where Nikola Tesla was born.

Speciality of the island of Pag: Saur

How to prepare the Pag saur? First fry the sea fish you have on both sides, then take the fish out of the pan. Add onions, garlic, parsley, pepper and water to the frying oil. Then pour vinegar on it, stir everything and cook for 10 minutes. Then remove the mixture of oil, onions, garlic, parsley, pepper and water from the heat and wait until everything is completely cold. Then, in an extra deep pot, put the fish that you fried before, arranging them in different layers, always rosemary in between and on top. Finally, the Saur mixture is placed on top. Done. This dish was once ideal for fishermen, today for party people and campers. But actually: For all those who get hungry quickly at the sea, but do not want to cook something new every day. Because: You can leave the Pager Saur also several days.

16 lakes connected by waterfalls up to 78 meters high.

One part of the island of Pag still belongs to Lika, another part of the island is already Dalmatian. Lika as a whole is not maritime, but rather characterized by forested, rocky and rugged hinterland. The Velebit mountains with the associated national parks are known among nature lovers worldwide. Tourists often feel reminded of the USA, probably one of the reasons why the Winnetou movies of the 60s were made here. Friends of Christian Buric's father had mimed Indians in these films with Lex Barker and Pierre Brice during their lifetime. A highlight of the region: the 16 Plitvice Lakes, connected by waterfalls up to 78 meters high. In the park grows about a thousand species of plants, including 55 orchids. Even brown bears, lynxes and wolves live in this labyrinth of caves and canyons. With his cousin, who is the forestry chief of the region, Christian likes to roam the forests. In the backcountry, we are more and more often on our mountain bikes, and soon we will be riding electric ones, too.

Between the broken glass quarter and the artists' colony

Back to the culinary: Dr. E's father was a chef and traveled internationally. He was good at plain cooking, but also at haute cuisine. Among other things, he cooked in the famous Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb. Later, he had his own restaurant in Munich for 12 years, in what is now the posh district of Lehel. When Christian Buric grew up here, it was "something between a glass shard district and an artists' colony"; it only became posh and almost unaffordable in terms of rents much later. His parents' restaurant was a family business. His childhood in the restaurant, which was frequented mainly by families, opera-goers and celebrities, "was unbeatable for me. In the brief description of his childhood and youth, Christian Buric says: "born in Munich, socialized in Lehel, and culinary privileged." Why privileged? Well, it's simple: eating à la carte every day.

Electromobility hub

Christian Buric also brought Thomas Biersack, his colleague in the media office of ADAC SE, to the appointment at the ADAC garage. Among other things, he also communicates on the e-bikes that ADAC SE offers on subscription and for purchase, has testing experience and is a proven camping and motorhome expert. Thomas Biersack, who also acts as "Mr. Ride," has been driving an electric car privately for many years and has also extensively tried out the Polestar 2, which the ADAC Fahrzeugwelt platform offers on lease. At our garage meeting, he also drove the KTM e-bike from the ADAC range and the compact cargo bike that the Touremo editorial team had just tested and brought along. Mr. Ride" made a clear statement about this:

"Cargo bikes relieve cities, contribute to the mobility turnaround and are currently maturing into a lucrative business model," says Thomas Biersack ADAC SE.

A network that grows

Since electric cars are not a product like conventional cars - there are so many things to think about, from charging infrastructure, payment systems, to second life or battery recycling - a kind of e-ecosystem has developed since 2018 in terms of products and services. These include e-cars on lease, e-bikes, a special interest rate for consumers who want to finance an e-car, discounted wallboxes with green and smart electricity tariffs for ADAC members, or even extended ADAC car insurance services for e-mobilists.  Lots of development potential. The pioneering days are over. Nevertheless: "We are still at the beginning of a journey that is now gaining momentum," says Christian Buric.

Book recommendation on the person of Nikola Tesla: Michael Krause: "Wie Nikola Tesla das 20. Jahrhundert erfand". Berlin. 2010

Polestar 2 for ADAC members: https://www.adac.de/fahrzeugwelt/fahrzeuge/polestar-2-580/

E-bikes from the ADAC: https://www.adac.de/services/e-angebote/zweirad/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxNmCk76s9QIVF8PVCh1_SQl8EAAYASAAEgL9Q_D_BwE

Images:
Lead story: ADAC SE/ Theo Klein
Image 1: Christian Buric
Picture 2: Source: Croatian National Tourist Board
Picture 3: Croatian National Tourist Board
Picture 4: Croatian National Tourist Board
Picture 5: Croatian National Tourist Board
Picture 6: ADAC SE/ Theo KleinGraphic: ADAC