An engineering approach to sustainable motoring, by Lindsay Duffield
President and CEO,
BMW Group Canada
Climate change is currently a hot topic and environmental concerns, carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel dependence have rightly moved to centre stage in the public eye.
BMW Group takes climate change and sustainability very seriously. For example, since 1988, we have voluntarily reduced our Canadian fleet average fuel consumption by 25 per cent for our cars, reducing carbon dioxide emissions commensurately.
Today's 3 Series models are 67 per cent more fuel efficient and have 95 per cent better emissions quality than 20-year- old models.
Often when people think of green vehicles, they think of hybrids. However, there are many other green options that we should not forget about. Diesels, hydrogen, electric, hybrids, ethanol, and traditional gasoline vehicles each help to protect the environment. However they also offer their unique pros and cons.
Hybrids, for example, include heavy, expensive lead acid batteries. E85 ethanol fuel is less efficient than traditional gasoline and generally unavailable to consumers.
Modern diesel engines are challenged with outdated perceptions and with meeting aggressive North American emission standards. The lead time for hydrogen vehicles is lengthy; it will take time to develop the infrastructure to fuel these vehicles.
Over all, these technologies are constructive for environmental protection, For optimal benefit, however, we need
clean fuels. BMW Group Canada supports the adoption of Canadian regulations for
fuel quality standards. Without clean fuel, our emissions are not clean - regardless of the technology.
We also believe that there is currently no single technology, no one perfect solution available to achieve sustainable motoring. Therefore, we are investing in various technologies before we will arrive at
our final destination - zero emissions.
BMW embarked on our journey for sustainable motoring many years ago - when large and heavy was the trend and fuel economy was not a priority. It started with an engineering approach that has shaped the company we are today.
The year 1968 marked the arrival of the BMW 2002 and it put BMW on the map in North America. This was a time when North American automobiles were typically powered by large V8 engines and usually equipped with inefficient automatic transmissions.
In Europe, fuel economy has always been a priority and BMW had cultivated a tradition of dynamic performance. The 2002 characterized BMW; a compact, upright sedan weighing only 2,210 pounds, when most domestic cars were closer to 4,000 pounds.
The BMW 2002 achieved fuel economy superior to that of "economy" cars, but most importantly, the 2002 was fun to drive. The 2002's message was: performance, fuel efficiency and one fun-to-drive vehicle. This message is what we call Efficient Dynamics.
The world and the automotive industry have changed dramatically since, and so has BMW. Yet, BMW's Efficient Dynamics philosophy has remained constant - improve driving dynamics while significantly lowering fuel consumption and emission levels.
As a premium manufacturer committed to trend-setting powertrains, we are not merely content achieving better fuel economy and lower emissions. Instead, we achieve these goals while also delivering further dynamic performance and driving enjoyment to our customers.
BMW's Efficient Dynamics philosophy incorporates a short-, medium- and long-term strategy.
In today's vehicles, we have implemented intelligent solutions that enhance our vehicles' energy management. Lightweight construction technologies such as carbon fibre roofs, aluminum/magnesium engines, and lightweight steel, allow us to improve driving dynamics and reduce fuel consumption.
BMW Group sees traditional internal combustion engines commanding most of the market for the foreseeable future. Therefore, we are continuously improving them through technologies like High Precision Injection and Valvetronic.
BMW is the first car manufacturer worldwide to feature High Precision Direct Injection technology broadly across several model series. The result is engines that use up to 15 per cent less fuel than their predecessors.
Standard in many BMW models is Valvetronic, our fully variable valve control technology. Valvetronic delivers 10 to 15 per cent gains in fuel efficiency, with similar boosts in horsepower.
Lastly, we cannot forget our most fuel efficient vehicles currently available - our motorcycles. BMW Motorrad offers a whole range of environmentally friendly vehicles that deliver the Ultimate Riding Experience.
In the short term, we will introduce BMW diesel engines to North America for 2008. Our performance-oriented, fuel-efficient diesel engines offer at least 30 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines. BMW diesels will meet the strictest emission regulations in place and proposed in North America, and will deliver the Ultimate Driving Experience.
In the medium term, BMW will launch hybrids. BMW Group's hybrid partnership with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler pools our expertise and will speed the time to market. The next-generation Hybrid Drive will deliver further efficiency gains, both in stop-and-go traffic and during longer journeys, than today's hybrids. Yet most importantly, we will launch hybrids that offer the performance BMW is renowned for.
For the long term, the BMW Group is focused on liquid hydrogen as the sustainable source of energy. We started hydrogen technology research more than 25 years ago because it has a virtually endless supply. Best of all, hydrogen vehicles essentially emit just water vapour.
The future of emissions-free motoring is available today. Launched this year in limited series production is the BMW Hydrogen 7. It is a 7 Series vehicle that features an internal combustion engine capable of running on liquid hydrogen or gasoline.
The Hydrogen 7 could run solely on hydrogen; however the infrastructure for hydrogen fuelling is not yet available. That is why we are working with partners, governments and other manufacturers to collectively arrive at our ultimate destination - zero emissions.
Because BMW Group views sustainability very seriously, we have been developing feasible solutions to conserve fossil fuels and protect the environment for many years. Most importantly, we will always do so while continually delivering BMW's traditional promise: the Ultimate Driving Experience.
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