Hans Zimmer, the film score composer behind dozens of Hollywood movies including The Lion King and Inception, is shaping what the next generation of BMW electric vehicles sound like. Zimmer and Renzo Vitale, an acoustic engineer and sound designer at the BMW Group, recently composed the sound for the BMW Vision M NEXT, the concept… Continue reading Hans Zimmer is composing the sound for BMW’s electric vehicles
Tag: BMW
BMW Motorrad sketches out what’s next: electric motorcycles
While quite a few startup companies have been building electric motorcycles for years, established motorcycle manufacturers have been slow to join the fray. The much-anticipated Harley Davidson Livewire, for instance, isn't yet out but is due in August.
On Tuesday, BMW Motorrad, the company's motorcycle division, at last announced its intent to join the electric motorcycle crowd, with a concept electric motorcycle called the BMW Vision DC Roadster.
It's designed to evoke images of BMW's more traditional motorcycles, with circular cooling fins sticking out the sides like the cylinder jugs on BMW's classic flat-twins. An upright battery is mounted longitudinally between the driver's knees, somewhat where a conventional bikes fuel tank might be, but deeper. BMW didn't specify the battery capacity or any range target.
Again harking to tradition, the Vision DC Roadster uses a longitudinally mounted motor, underneath the battery, connected to a shaft drive.
As a concept, the Vision DC Roadster has a cafe-racer stance, with laid-down front forks and a very high seat and tail. The vestigial signature LED headlight almost disappears ahead of the driver.
BMW came early to developing electrically-powered cars, introducing the advanced i3 and i8 in 2014, but it has been slower to begin work converting its two-wheeled lineup.
The electric motorcycle market grew a few years ago with Lightning, Alta Motors, and Zero, but with more big players like BMW and Harley Davidson, among many, it's a sign that it's taking off. Now with BMW considering broad outlines of an electric motorcycle, the scales may be tipping. We're looking at you, Honda!
Press Releases – Auto industry revises 2019 car sales forecast to -1%
Brussels, 27 June 2019 – In the side-lines of its annual general meeting in Brussels today, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) revised its forecast for 2019 passenger car registrations downwards to -1%. ACEA’s initial forecast, published earlier this year, was for growth of up to 1% compared to 2018. The association now expects a… Continue reading Press Releases – Auto industry revises 2019 car sales forecast to -1%
Honda Global | June 27, 2019 Honda Sets Monthly Records for Automobile Production Worldwide, Overseas, in North America, Asia and China
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of May 2019. Worldwide Production May 2019 Year-to-Date Total(Jan.-May 2019) Units vs.’18 Units vs.’18 Japan 76,916 +18.2% 394,518 +12.2% Outside of Japan 383,247 * +3.4% 1,856,761 -1.3% Worldwide Total 460,163 * +5.6% 2,251,279 +0.9% *Record high… Continue reading Honda Global | June 27, 2019 Honda Sets Monthly Records for Automobile Production Worldwide, Overseas, in North America, Asia and China
Subaru Corporation Announces Production, Japan Sales and Export Resultsfor May 2019 (Flash Report)
June 27, 2019
Subaru Corporation Announces Production, Japan Sales and Export Results
for May 2019 (Flash Report)
May 2019
Jan-May 2019
Units
2019 vs 2018
Units
’19 vs ’18
Domestic production *1
50,088
+14.9%
First y/y increase in 10 months
230,291
-14.7%
Overseas production *2
☆☆
40,069
+35.5%
11th consecutive month of y/y increase
176,358
+20.3%
Global production total
☆
90,157
+23.2%
2nd consecutive month of y/y increase
406,649
-2.3%
Passenger vehicles
7,129
+9.1%
2nd consecutive month of y/y increase
46,373
-8.3%
Mini vehicles
1,869
-6.8%
6th consecutive month of y/y decrease
11,064
-20.1%
Japan sales total
8,998
+5.3%
2nd consecutive month of y/y increase
57,437
-10.8%
Export total *3
36,303
+5.4%
First y/y increase in 7 months
177,374
-19.4%
☆: May record
☆☆: All-time record for any month
－
Domestic production increased year-on-year, due to a significant increase in Forester production which offset an impact of changes in plant operation schedules continuing since November 2018.
－
Overseas production increased year-on-year boosted by production of Ascent which started in May 2018 as well as increases in other models.
－
Passenger vehicle sales increased year-on-year, led by the fully-redesigned Forester launched in July 2018 as well as increased sales of the Subaru XV driven by strong demand for its “e-Boxer”-equipped models.
(e-Boxer: Subaru’s newly-developed power unit system that combines a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed, direct injection Subaru Boxer engine with an electric motor.)
－
Mini vehicle sales decreased year-on-year due to decreased sales of the Chiffon and other models.
－
Exports from Japan increased year-on-year due to increased shipments of the Forester.
*1 JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc.) report basis (CBU)
*2 Local line-off basis
*3 JAMA report basis
###
[PDF/252 KB]
BMW accelerates EVs, VW secures batteries, Rivian plans more gear: Today’s Car News
BMW accelerated its electric-car plans by two years. Volkswagen says its battery supplies are secure. Rivian reveals more plans for lifestyle gear. And our readers weigh in on electric Hummers. All this and more on Green Car Reports.
At an event in Germany on Tuesday, BMW announced that it is pulling forward its plans to electrify its products by two years and focusing more on pure electric cars.
Despite shortages of batteries and battery materials beginning to roil the EV industry, Volkswagen, the automaker with the largest-scale plans for EVs says its contracts will guarantee it has enough batteries through 2023.
Rivian confirmed that it has more plans for accessories to fit in the R1T pickup's “gear tunnel” and that it intends to make smaller, more affordable models in the future.
Results from last week's Twitter poll show that GCR readers broadly support GM reviving the Hummer brand in all-electric form.
An Apple patent reveals a system to allow remote-control drivers to take over autonomous cars to get to a hospital faster in a medical emergency.
Finally, new headlights earned the 2019 Hyundai Tucson a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.
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Football clubs look to recycled car batteries to power floodlights
Old electric vehicle batteries retain enough capacity to light up a game Six European football stadiums are experimenting with deploying used car batteries to power their floodlights. The battery packs, comprised of used electric car batteries, are being supplied by Eaton, the US-based electrical systems firm. Eaton vice-president Craig McDonnell could not reveal the clubs… Continue reading Football clubs look to recycled car batteries to power floodlights
BMW Drags Feet on Merkel’s Call for German Battery Champions
BMW AG isn’t showing much enthusiasm to get on board with a German government push to establish battery cell production in Europe, slowing a plan to create an industry that keeps pace with Asian rivals and get on the front foot on elusive climate goals.
Enterprise Holdings-Backed Booster Raises $56M in New Funding
With this new funding, the company has now raised a total of $88.5 million to unlock new markets and modernize today’s fueling experience and infrastructure. Photo courtesy of Booster. Booster, a same-day fuel delivery service, has raised $56 million Series C funding led by Invus Opportunities, with strong participation from existing partners Madrona Venture Group,… Continue reading Enterprise Holdings-Backed Booster Raises $56M in New Funding
BMW ‘could produce 100 electrified models by 2023 if demand was there’
BMW “could launch 100 electrified cars by 2023” if customer demand was there to buy them, according to the firm’s head of development, Klaus Fröhlich. His comments coincided with today’s announcement that BMW is pulling forward its electrified launch goal of 25 new vehicles by two years. Fröhlich says this is possible because of the flexibility of… Continue reading BMW ‘could produce 100 electrified models by 2023 if demand was there’