VW To Use Heat Recovery Systems
Volkswagen has shown a prototype vehicle equipped with a thermoelectric generator according to the International Thermoelectric Society website. The system recovers the dissipated heat energy and converts it into electricity. The prototype has been shown at the “Thermoelektrik - Eine Chance Für Die Atomobillindustrie?” meeting held in Berlin in October 2008.
The thermoelectric generator is reportedly able to gain about 600W from a car running on a highway, meeting about 30% of the car’s electrical consumption requirements. For the moment, the thermoelectric generators haven’t been embedded in a hybrid car, although VW says with the current setup it can save about 5% of your fuel consumption Read more
BMW Sauber to use High Power Density Electric KERS
January 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Starting this season, Formula 1 teams may use a KERS systems (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that stores a total of 400 kJ of energy and generates 60 kW (about 80hp) of mechanical output for 6.5 seconds which the driver can trigger from a button on the steering wheel during the course of a lap. The energy storage unit may only be recharged under braking. Read more
Renault and Williams F1 Teams May Delay KERS Debuts
January 23, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Formula 1’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System, otherwise known as KERS, is causing a lot of controversy and some teams may not even use it for the first few races of the season, and Ferrari trying to have it’s introduction delayed until the 2010 season.
It emerged that Williams and Renault, who both unveiled their new cars in Portugal this week, have not decided whether to use their KERS units at the first race of the season in March.
Williams is using a purely mechanical KERS system as favored by FIA President Max Mosely, while Renault, Ferrari and BMW are using electrical battery-based technology.
Renault’s new R29 featured only a dormant KERS version on Monday, with team boss Flavio Briatore hitting out at BMW for vetoing the technology’s delay and condemning the 2009 debut as a “terrible mistake”. He said KERS is dangerous and expensive, and very limited in terms of performance gains. Read more
X6 Hybrid Release Pushed Forward to Summer of 2009
January 5, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The X6 ActiveHybrid has since been spotted testing in prototype form on both sides of the Atlantic and the latest spy images reveal a near-production ready version of the upcoming model. Now new details have emerged on the release date, which appears to have been moved up to mid-2009.
The X6 ActiveHybrid’s release was originally slated for 2010, but a new report from Automobilwoche reveals that BMW is now planning to release the vehicle for sale in mid-2009. Pricing information is still unknown, but expect it to be more expensive than the standard X6, which starts at $66,200 for the V8-powered xDrive50i. Read more
BMW 7-series ActiveHybrid: LA 2008
November 19, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
The new BMW 7-series ActiveHybrid was shown in the USA for the first time today at the LA Auto Show. The 7-series hybrid uses the same mild hybrid system developed alongside Mercedes.
A 20 kW electric motor/generator is sandwiched between the engine and transmission. The motor provides start-stop and regenerative braking capability. A lithium ion battery pack stores the energy and when it’s not needed for electric boost, it provides energy for vehicle electrical systems thus reducing the parasitic loads on the engine.
The mild hybrid will be used with the 4.4L twin-turbo V8 that BMW uses in the standard 7-series. This will reportedly give about a 20 percent increase in mpg. The 7-series hybrid should be on sale world-wide from the second half of 2009.
Mini seeks 500 drivers to lease electric car for a year
November 6, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Mini is recruiting 500 drivers in California, New York, and New Jersey to lease its electric car for a year.
MiniUSA.com has been offering a peek at the Mini E for the past two weeks, and 9,500 people have signed up for more information, says Trudy Hardy, Mini USA’s manager of marketing communications. Although the Mini E will take over the site in mid-November, marketing will still be low-key because “we don’t want to turn too many people away,” Hardy says. Read more
New Mini E Powered by AC Propulsion not Tesla
October 29, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
BMW will be leasing 500 Mini Es from dealers in New York, New Jersey and Southern California starting some time early in 2009. To be considered for one of these cars, you have to go to http://www.minispace.com/en_us/projects/electric-mini-e/ and sign up, but remember, they are only going to consider you if you live in one of the regions cited above. Read more
