BMW Passes 100,000 Mark on Electric Cars Sold Around The world.

BMW Passes 100,000 Mark on Electric Cars Sold Around The world.

Since the launch of the BMW i3 in November 2013, BMW has sold more than 100,000 all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles around the world, according to a company press release.

As for the breakdown, BMW said that the i3 accounted for more than 60,000 of the 100,000-plus units sold. That makes it the most successful electric car in the premium compact segment, according to BMW.

BMW says that the i8 plug-in hybrid ranks number one among electrified sports cars. More than 10,000 units have been delivered since the i8’s launch in the middle of 2014.

More than 30,000 other plug-in hybrids have been sold in the past three years to make up the remainder of the 100,000-plus mark. There are five BMW plug-in hybrid models in this category. These days, BMW puts them under the BMW iPerformance label, reflecting what the company calls the “successful broad-based transfer of BMW i technology.”

The BMW X5 plug-in hybrid has been one of the top sellers in this group of electrified vehicles beyond the i3 and i8. According to HybridCar’s Dashboard, the X5 plug-in hybrid sold 406 units in the U.S. in October, beating the i8’s 199 sold and following close behind the i3’s 442 units sold.

“BMW i remains our spearhead in terms of innovation and it will continue to open up groundbreaking technologies for the BMW Group,” says Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Krüger. “When it comes to electric drivetrains, we’ve already successfully managed to put this technology transfer on the road. The next technological advance we will address is automated driving, where the BMW iNEXT will set a new benchmark.”

Other models to follow in the years to come, include a Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid in 2017. There will also be a new variant of the BMW i8 sports car with plug-in hybrid drive will come out in 2018 – an open-top BMW i8 Roadster. The BMW iNEXT will roll out at the beginning of the next decade, BMW said. There’s also been news of the BMW i5 electric SUV targeted for 2021.

BMW Group considers itself a pioneer in sustainable mobility by establishing the BMW i brand and opting to develop a separate vehicle architecture and BMW eDrive technology for electric power. This has helped bring in new customers; more than 80 per cent of BMW i3 customers worldwide are new to BMW, the automaker said in the press release

BMW wagers on hydrogen and batteries as the fuel without bounds

BMW wagers on hydrogen and batteries as the fuel without bounds

German brand putting vigorously in both battery and hydrogen tech

BMW Vision

The following decade will decide the fuel without bounds, as per BMW's worldwide deals and showcasing manager, Ian Robertson.

Addressing Drive finally week's Geneva engine appear, the Brit affirmed that BMW is having an every way bet on whether battery-controlled electric autos or hydrogen power modules will be the most productive, successful and moderate long haul arrangements.

In any case, he said BMW is putting vigorously into the improvement of both option control sources and plans to grow its scope of iPerformance module half and halves and completely electric models, and in addition present a devoted power device vehicle, over the next four years.

BMW Vision

"The question is the place does progresses in battery innovation make the energy component less appealing. Right now we know we can transform compacted hydrogen into power and you can fuel it inside ten minutes, however the limit of batteries and the reviving ability is moving, quick," he said.

"Three of four years prior we suspected that Lithium Ion had achieved its pinnacle, however that is not the situation. Now we have Lithium Air, solid state batteries that are moving at a quick rate, not only for autos but rather for any shopper electronic gadget that doesn't have a link joined to it any longer. There is a dreadful part of profound research [going] into that field. The truth will surface eventually when it turns into a matter of how rapidly does its bend change the hybrid point with the coordinations and framework of hydrogen.

"Taking a gander at it reasonably, the battery is most likely the approach. However, we don't exactly know the appropriate responses yet."

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Sooner rather than later, BMW will present a completely electric variant of its Mini bring forth and furthermore the up and coming third-era X3 SUV and grow its scope of module cross breeds, right off the bat with the petrol-electric Mini Countryman and after that the all-new 5-Series vehicle in the following few months and took after by the official uncover of the i8 Roadster at the Frankfurt engine appear in September.

Longer term however, as Robertson demonstrated, BMW is not just putting resources into research to enhance the power thickness and energizing limit of existing Lithium Ion batteries additionally exploring the conceivable outcomes of presenting Lithium Air/Solid State batteries, which offer a noteworthy improvement in vitality thickness that could mean smaller and lighter or all the more effective battery packs.

A strong state battery is produced using layers of valuable materials and is said to have a similar particular vitality yield as petroleum, making it five times more proficient than existing Lithium Ion batteries. Be that as it may, Robertson surrendered the innovation is as yet unpredictable and must be manufactured efficiently in low-volume generation.

Flipping the coin, BMW will present a hydrogen energy unit vehicle inside the following couple of years. It is comprehended the powertrain is part of BMW's iNext extend, which will end up being a feature for the most recent advances in independent driving, alternative power arrangements and new development strategies and materials. The auto, which is relied upon to space into BMW's eco go as the i5, is said to be a average sized hybrid and is because of taken off in 2021.

Indeed, even from that point forward, Robertson said there is still life yet in the traditional burning motor and that it will stay as the essential wellspring of impetus for at any rate the following decade.

"The burning motor has still got an approach," he said.

"As the innovation of the other powertrain alternatives advances there comes a point where you have a hybrid with an ignition motor. Year over year we need to add more innovation to keep it agreeable.

"I think for the following 10 years we will see the ignition motor as the essential driver however eventually, perhaps in the 10-20 year skyline we will see the burning motor pinnacle and begin to go down. None of us truly know the direction of that bend, so we need to have the capacity of playing in every one of these powertrain fields on the grounds that when one keeps running up and one keeps running down is indistinct."

Plug-in, hybrid, EV or hydrogen: Which is best for you?

Plug-in, hybrid, EV or hydrogen: Which is best for you?



Battery-powered EVs have garnered all the column inches when it comes to alternative-fuel vehicles, although other forms of propulsion are available.

But what's the difference between the various options, and how should fleets decide between them? James Richardson explains all.

Hybrids



Traditional or 'serial' hybrids have been around for a while now, with the Toyota Prius (pictured) being by far and away the most famous example. This is especially true among fleets, to which around 44,000 have been sold since 2000. Hypercars like the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 have all added a bit of sex appeal to the hybrid genre, too, although they use electricity to boost performance, instead of improving economy.

These are essentially petrol-powered cars that use electric motors and batteries to augment the power provided by an internal combustion engine.

Although these vehicles - compared to their plug-in hybrid cousins anyway - don't have much all-electric range (typically less than 10 miles) they are generally more efficient than internal combustion-powered alternatives.

For instance, at low speeds, the car is powered exclusively by electricity before the petrol engine takes over. The electric motor is also used to improve performance where necessary, but in general its main purpose is to help save fuel.

Unlike their plug-in brethren (see below), serial hybrid cars aren't plugged in to charge up their batteries. Instead, these charge themselves as they're driven along and recover energy that would have been otherwise lost under braking to help keep the batteries topped up.

Cars like these are becoming more popular as diesel falls out of fashion and are at their best and most efficient when they spend the majority of their time in town, with plenty of stop-start driving and utilising the electric power as much as possible. They're less at home, however, when they're on the motorway doing relentless miles, where electricity isn't used as much compared to the petrol engine, and so they're not as efficient.

Positive:

Lower P11D prices (generally)
Work well around town
Very quiet and refined

Negative

Nominal electric-only range
Efficiency suffers out of town
Poor on the motorway


Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)

These work in a similar way to their serial cousins (see above), but boast a significantly longer electric-only range, thanks to more powerful batteries that need to be plugged in to a mains supply to charge them fully.

More and more plug-in models are becoming available, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (pictured) proving particularly popular, while company car favourites such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class can also now be had with a plug socket attached. Thanks to very low official CO2 emissions and no 3% BIK diesel surcharge, they're also more tax efficient.

Generally, these will manage around 30 miles on electric power alone, but once that's gone then the petrol engine (and they are almost exclusively petrol-engined) takes over. Depending on the type of power supply, recharging the batteries can take anywhere between one hour up to around five hours.

Fleets will get the best results from cars like these - in terms of fuel efficiency at least - by helping drivers to ensure that the batteries are always fully charged. This means installing charging points at the office, as well as making drivers aware of how to charge their car at home and at the various public points that are available throughout the UK.

Like serial hybrids, these cars work best around town and over shorter distances when the majority of the journey is covered under electric power alone. This will see fuel bills become considerably lower than an equivalent diesel or petrol car, while the driver will enjoy the full benefits of the very low BIK bills as well.

Positive

Very low official CO2 figures
Shorter charging time than full EVs
Usable electric-only range

Negative

Need to keep the battery topped up
Limited public infrastructure
Inefficient when the battery runs out


Range-extending EVs


Next up, we're looking at range-extending electric vehicles. These are  cars that are driven exclusvely by electric motors, but they also include a small internal combustion engine to act as an on-board electricity generator for the batteries.

Obviously, they work at their best when operating on electric power alone and, once the plugged-in battery charge has gone, these do get through fuel remarkably quickly, usually because they've only got relatively small fuel tanks. At the moment, range extenders aren't proving as popular as hybrids or PHEVs, with just one example on sale in the UK - the BMW i3, of which just shy of 2,000 examples were sold in 2016.

Like PHEVs, it's best to keep these charged up from the plug, rather than from the on-board engine in order to ensure maximum efficiency. This will, again, involve educating your drivers about keeping the batteries topped up whenever possible - at the office, when out on the road and at home.

Drivers that rely too much on the extra range offered by the petrol engine will see their fuel economy - and the subsequent running costs - suffer significantly. It's important to remember that these are, essentially, just electric vehicles  that can be taken further afield than many standard battery-only electric cars but are more comfortable around town and on other shorter journeys.

Positive

Very low official CO2 figures
Ultra low BIK rates
Much reduced 'range anxiety'

Negative

Need to keep the battery charged
Limited public charging nfrastructure
Poor out of town


Hydrogen fuel cells

Finally, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are seen by some as the ultimate replacement for fossil fuels, but whether or not that's the case remains to be seen. They're certainly the most hi-tech and futuristic of our four.

Basically, they're a mixture between a range extender and a full EV. They are powered solely by electricity, but this doesn't come from a plug and isn't generated by a petrol engine. Instead, it's generated in a hydrogen fuel cell that mixes hydrogen, which is stored in an on-board tank (that can be refilled just like a traditional fuel tank), with oxygen to produce the electricity that drives the electric motors. The biggest advantage of this is that the only waste product generated is water.

At the moment, there are just two fuel-cell cars on sale in the UK - the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell - and only nominal numbers have been sold thus far. But more, including Honda and BMW examples, are coming in the near future.

There are, however, two major drawbacks to hydrogen cars. Firstly, there are currently only 12 hydrogen filling stations operational in the UK, not all of which are available to the public. They are also monstrously expensive to buy, even with companies selling them at a loss. The lack of infrastructure means these are still vehicles for the future rather than realistic proposals for the majority of fleets, and will only really appeal to those businesses wishing to make a 'green' statement.

Positive

Zero emission transport
Early adopter' rarity value
No 'range anxiety'

Negative

Filling infrastructure still in its infancy
Very expensive to buy

Honda or Toyota, whose hybrid car should you buy?

Honda or Toyota, whose hybrid car should you buy?

A few years ago, you’d have to be a) very rich and b) very ecologically minded to consider a hybrid car. Yes, fuel-saving ‘micro hybrid’ technology has made it to many affordable cars – the SHVS-equipped Maruti Ciaz and Ertiga diesels, for instance, but ‘proper’ hybrids were prohibitively expensive. And with frugal diesel-powered options available for much less money, the case for going hybrid was weakened further. However, hybrid technology has trickled down to lower segments, so it’s possible to do your bit for the environment without having to break the bank. Plus, the uncertainty over future regulations on diesel cars has also got buyers thinking of alternatives. In the premium executive sedan segment, there are no greener and more efficient alternatives than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the new Honda Accord Hybrid.

The Hybrid marks the return of the Accord to India and also serves as a technological showcase for Honda. Built in Japan, the fully imported Accord Hybrid is unfortunately subject to the full spectrum of Indian taxes and duties, and as a result, costs a hefty Rs 37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Toyota, on the other hand, assembles the Camry Hybrid in India, which qualifies the sedan for incentives under the government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India or FAME India scheme. Hence, it costs a far more reasonable Rs 30.9 lakh.

On price alone, the Camry has the Accord beat. But does the Accord Hybrid have some surprises in store?

Both the Accord and the Camry hybrids have efficient petrol engines and electric motors that combine to form single-drive systems. However, both systems are quite different.

The Camry uses a 160hp 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and 143hp electric motor. It can run in full electric mode at low speeds and switches to a combination of electric and engine power (for a total output of 205hp) when you go faster, both sources driving the front wheels via a CVT gearbox. The battery pack recharges via regeneration that is when the car is slowing down or cruising.

The Accord, on the other hand, uses a 145hp 2.0-litre petrol but has a peppier 184hp electric motor. The real talking points, however, are the car’s three drive modes. In the first, EV mode, the Accord runs solely on battery power. As the battery depletes and/or speeds increase, the system switches to Hybrid mode. Here, the engine steps in, not to drive the front wheels but to power the electric motor. The third is ‘Engine mode’ where the petrol engine directly drives the front wheels at speeds of 80kph and over. The electric motor steps in when you require more performance. This way you get a total of 215hp.

Time to find out how they drive. Expectantly, both cars run silently on electric power but the Honda clearly replenishes its batteries faster during city driving conditions. As a result, it’s also the car that goes longer in full EV mode. Just that you have to be very gentle with the throttle to keep the Accord running as an electric vehicle; it quickly switches to Hybrid mode when you even lightly up the pace. Also, when the engine kicks in, it’s the noisier one here. While the Accord rarely gets into Engine mode in city conditions, it’s remarkable how seamless the transition is from Hybrid to Engine mode.

The Camry may not have the Accord’s electric range but its EV mode does allow you to be a bit more liberal with the throttle before the engine kicks in. The engine itself is mostly smooth but get the Camry excited and there’s no escaping that there’s a CVT in the picture – revs rise faster than a corresponding rise in speed.

Both cars offer adequate performance in town but the Accord always feels a bit livelier; it also has a Sport mode that quickens up responses. The Honda is quicker from 0-100kph with a time of 8.32sec to the Camry’s time of 9.2sec. However, acceleration figures don’t help sell hybrid cars. Fuel economy figures do. And it’s here that the Accord really shines. Its 17.4kpl city fuel efficiency significantly betters the Camry’s respectable 14.1kpl figure. Both cars are extremely frugal on highways too, but once again the Accord is the one that will take you further on a litre of petrol.

Efficient, green and powerful as these cars are, they won’t excite the keen driver when changing directions. There isn’t all that much between the duo in ride comfort either. The Accord has the marginally nicer low-speed ride and also feels a touch more planted at higher speeds.

What’s nice is that both these cars offer comfort and space in abundance. However, the Honda has a nicer back seat, and in true Accord fashion, offers sofa-like comfort. Its seating position and overall ambience are better than the Camry’s too. The Camry seats rear occupants lower resulting in a slightly knees-up seating position. However, it’s got more headroom, a more usable middle seat and also the option to electrically recline the outer seat’s backrests. Both the Camry and the Accord allow you to adjust the front passenger seat from the back to free up more legroom.

Both cars also offer comfortable and generous front seats. Still, the Accord’s cabin is far better finished and the multi-layer dash, replete with dual screens, looks more modern. There’s also a feeling of solidity in the manner its doors shut.

The Camry is well built too, but the cabin just doesn’t feel special enough for the price. The touchscreen on the dash looks like an aftermarket add-on and there’s way too much shiny faux wood and too many plain buttons in what should be a premium cabin.

What Toyota has done is equipped the Camry Hybrid rather well. It comes with a three-zone climate control, audio controls in the rear armrest, electric rear sun shade, ventilated front seats and powered steering adjust. The Accord has some highlights of its own too. Its driver’s seat gets a memory function; there’s a sunroof; satellite navigation is standard; and the infotainment system comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Both cars get seven airbags and a whole host of electronic safety aids. The Accord additionally features what Honda calls LaneWatch. Here, the centre screen relays images from the left side mirror thus giving a visual of any blind spots.

An important point to bring in is that the Camry gets a full-size spare tyre while the Accord only comes with a puncture repair kit. Even so, the Accord has a marginally smaller boot with the battery pack eating into luggage space.

A word here on the way these cars look. The Camry is smart but some may find the cuts and creases up front unnecessary. The Accord, on the other hand, looks sleek and relatively sportier.

Truth is, the Accord Hybrid is the more desirable car. It feels newer; got the nicer interior and is more high-tech under its attractive skin. And for what it’s worth, it’s also the more fuel-efficient car. But good as the Accord Hybrid is, it’s not good enough to justify the Rs 7 lakh premium over the Camry.

The Camry Hybrid may be down on appeal but it works well as a hybrid and there’s just no arguing the financial case it makes. It really is the more sensible buy of this duo

Toyota utilizing A.I. as a feature of battery research awards

Toyota utilizing A.I. as a feature of battery research awards

Toyota arrangements to burn through $35 million on organizations with colleges to study approaches to improve batteries for electric vehicles and test conceivable arrangements utilizing computerized reasoning.

The Japanese automaker said the colleges will likewise investigate whether different materials, for example, magnesium, could be utilized to make enhanced batteries, said Brian Story, program director for the Toyota Research Institute, which is situated in Los Altos, Calif., yet has workplaces in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Cambridge, Mass.

Today's half and half, module mixture and battery electric vehicles are controlled by lithium-particle batteries — an innovation that Story said was imagined about 40 years back.

"Also, we are a few seconds ago start to immaculate them," Story said.

The issue confronting the vehicle business is that current batteries keep on being exorbitant and have go restrictions that have kept down industry deals contrasted and less expensive, yet less fuel-productive gas motors.

Story said Toyota and its college accomplices likewise need to investigate better approaches for outlining batteries.

"There is an endless number of handles that you can tune when you are doing advancement work," Story said. "The expectation is that the utilization of computerized reasoning will help us deal with the endless number of things you can do."

Toyota's underlying accomplices incorporate Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, State University of New York at Buffalo, University of Connecticut, and the U.K.- based materials-science organization Ilika. The foundation is likewise in progressing exchanges with extra research accomplices.

Toyota said the examination projects will take after parallel ways, as analysts work to recognize new materials for use in future vitality frameworks and in addition create instruments and procedures that can quicken the plan and advancement of new materials all the more comprehensively.

The venture is a piece of a four-year, $35 million speculation with research substances, colleges and organizations on research that utilizations computerized reasoning to help quicken the outline and revelation of cutting edge materials, TRI has declared.

The Toyota Research Institute was built up in 2015 to lead examine into auto security for self-sufficient autos, increment access to portability for the individuals who generally can't drive and help make an interpretation of open air versatility innovation into items for indoor portability

2018 Buick's Version Of A Hybrid Car

2018 Buick's Version Of A Hybrid Car

The upscale automobile brand of the American manufacturer, General Motors has something new for the market. This 2018 Buick Riviera is one of the awaited hybrid cars to arrived.

The Shanghai GM develops the model and is also the product produced from the collaboration endeavor of GM and PATAC or known as Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center. The hybrid car models build with creative and amazing designs that can keep up with other competitive models in its segment.

As for the interior, it is stunning just like how its exterior looks like. On the inside of the car, it shows a simple yet elegant color theme of light gray and blue. Design made for the interior is to provide comfort and a relaxing aura while in the middle of the road.

The engine design for this 2018 Buick Riviera is newly developed and aims to fit the car's characteristics. This engine can be powered by a dual mode wireless plug-in electric vehicle. It also enables the car to run in full electric or in a gas hybrid mode. A charging port with a cable that is attached to the engine can also be found.

As the engine is created for this model, it is said that it is similar to the one that can be found on the Cadillac ELR and the Chevy Volt. With the new features that were added to this car, it works the same way as the ELR and Volt which differentiate the Riviera from the other Buick models.

One of the new features for the 2018 Buick Riviera is an eAssist system. It enables the car to alert the driver as well as the passenger whenever they are in a blind zone. It also has a lane departure warning feature and the car parking assistance.

For other safety features, it comes with a camera that has an improved high resolution and 18 micro high-precision sensors. In addition, the car's controlled dampers come in electromagnetic.

There is still no exact date of the release revealed by the company. However, it is expected to be release late this year

2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Gives Hybrid Cars Much Elegance

2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Gives Hybrid Cars Much Elegance

Half breed autos aren't precisely known to be in the execution class. Porsche makes a special case of that with the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. Presently cross breed autos can be execution autos too.

It is still very uncommon that half breeds are in the execution auto class, let alone in the top of the line some portion of it. That makes the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid its remarkable status, as it gives cross breed autos much class. Porsche could give a lift for the half breed classification with its Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

The Panamera may be a half and half, yet it isn't deficient in power. At 680 hp it is as intense as a half and half auto can get. This power is provided by a 4.0-liter V8 motor. This gives the auto the power it needs to make it to 60 mph in only 3.2 seconds.

It will likewise require that much power since the Panamera isn't precisely light either at 5,200 pounds. That is much body weight for a games car. Weight however turns out to be less of an issue with the motor that it has on it.

The Panamera has all the eye trappings of the 911 Carrera, just it is as a four-entryway sports car. It likewise has much weight accompanying it. Adding to this weight is its battery pack, which as of now is 300 pounds substantial. Adding significantly more to it are its electric engine and electric control units, according to Car and Driver. It is 700 pounds heavier than the Panamera Turbo.

Its cost is likewise similarly as overwhelming, coming in at $185,450. That is more than the base model for the Panamera Turbo. Still, even with all that weight and value, the Panamera R E-Hybrid is as yet an auto that has much abilities, per  engadget. It has contraptions to make it helpful, for example, a 12.3-inch touchscreen that components the Porsche Communication Management framework.

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is Porsche's interpretation of grasping green innovation. It demonstrates that green innovation require not be in a type of a moderate auto. Not when it is the Panamera E-Hybrid, which gives green innovation tastefulness. The future for green innovation in the car business would be extraordinary with autos like it. Porsche has additionally turned out with its 2018 911 GT3 as of late.