BMW on NGV or other Fuel Saver

[anaksarawak]

bmw and ngv in the same sentence?? dat is an oxymoron!!!
wanna save the world and be fuel efficient??

try magic carpets! hee hee!!

I kinda agree wz u but BMW is research into Hydrogen n Biodiesel also electric for their 7 series n X series.

Think again on our future n the ultimate power we can use for our UDM.. With the same cost u can drive a V12 4.4 and only pay RM0.70 per 100km (biodiesel) or the V10 5.0 (M5 engine) on Hydrogen while just paying RM1.20 per 100km

Future is soon... and I wish to see UDM with huge engine and power...

If we stay with petrol and if the price goes up to RM8 per liter.. I am sure less people will drive their UDM while BMW might drop their engine size to 1.6cc or 1.8cc or even worse new A Class will out sell 3 series..

Petrol will not last for long..some say only for another 30 years.

 

[ratchet]

I'll let the experts at BMW do the worrying about alternative power sources, I have enough on a daily basis myself.

Sacrificing what sets your UDM apart from other cars just to save a few ringgit on fuel means you are no longer driving a UDM. You're driving a metal box, 4 wheels attached and a BMW logo patched to the front. Not worth it.

 

[anaksarawak]

KUALA LUMPUR: You will be breathing cleaner air sooner than you think. Thanks to new government regulations, drivers and motorcyclists in Malaysia will be filling up with cleaner petrol and diesel by end of next month.

The new fuel will have lower levels of sulphur — the sulphur content in diesel will go down from 0.3 per cent to 0.05 per cent, and for petrol, the reduction will be from 0.15 per cent to 0.05 per cent.

This means that motor vehicles will be spewing less of the environmentally hazardous sulphur dioxide which contributes to respiratory illness and the formation of acid rain.

“The quality of diesel that we are using is far below international standards,” Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid told the New Sunday Times.

“The Cabinet has approved our move to get all oil companies in Malaysia to adhere to the new standards.”

"We may have to pay a little more but it is better to pay now than to pay later to cover health costs and damage to the environment," said Azmi.

An industry source said it would cost 3 or 4 sen more per litre. Diesel now costs RM1.58 per litre, and petrol RM1.92.

Datuk Rosnani Ibarahim, the director-general of the Department of Environment, said they had been working with oil companies on the improvements for some time.

"We are working towards making this a regulation (under the Environment Quality Act) by end of next month.

"At present, we are going by the MS123 standard for diesel fuel and MS118 for petrol, which are inferior."

The new fuel standard will be similar to the Euro II emission standard set by the European Union that limits the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment.

"We are prepared to go Euro II any time the government wants," said a Petronas senior manager, who did not want to be identified. "It just means a bit more refining of the feedstock."

Vicky Lee, the fuels development manager of Shell Malaysia, said: "We will comply with the government’s regulations on Euro II and work towards the deadline."

Industry observers said the local industry had been aware of the move to Euro II and that the indication was that it would not be later than March.

 

[KL2DC]

That's great...diesel's the way to go. Great power and monstrous torque with great fuel economy. Its win-win. I'm dreaming of a 335d myself....

The US is also cleaning up their diesels. The diesel council has been lobbying for years, for the adoption of low-sulfur clean diesels. BMW's waiting to see when they can release the diesel models in the US.

 

[fabianyee]

Geoff, BMW is producing H2 engine but you did not come standard with 1, did it??

A lot of engineering went into the car to have alternative fuel technology integrated into it. Of course you can retrofit but it's not as thorough as a fully engineered system from the factory. No doubt it can still work as one but the driveability and long term durability are big question marks.

As for NGV in Malaysia, perhaps you want to hire a NGV taxi for the whole day, including the time when it goes into Petronas for refuelling, then you would understand why NGV vehicles for the masses is not viable just as yet...

 

[KL2DC]

Geoff, BMW is producing H2 engine but you did not come standard with 1, did it??

A lot of engineering went into the car to have alternative fuel technology integrated into it. Of course you can retrofit but it's not as thorough as a fully engineered system from the factory. No doubt it can still work as one but the driveability and long term durability are big question marks.

BMW's getting serious with the hydrogen/gasoline bi-fuel system. Starting this year, following the Chicago Auto Show, BMW NA is offering up Hydrogen7 leases to select clients in California. It'd be interesting to see the reliability/viability of the system.

Imho hydrogen is still too exotic for me. How about slapping on an electrical assist motor on a turbo-diesel BMW. Can you imagine how much power/torque you can get with that (at the same time saving on fuel) The 335d already comes with 580Nm of torque, an electic motor assist (working in tandem or parallel) can add a good 25% to that. Throw in a chip retuning and an E90 with 1000Nm torque is quite possible (if the steptronic can handle the grunt) while maintaining 40+ miles per gallon

edit: actually BMW is already planning for full hybrid models in the upcoming model years. The new regenerative braking systems in the E60 facelift (6 cylinder models only) is a prelude to a new line of BMW hybrid models coming soon.

http://www.bmwcca.org/node/6163

 

[anaksarawak]

Geoff, BMW is producing H2 engine but you did not come standard with 1, did it??

A lot of engineering went into the car to have alternative fuel technology integrated into it. Of course you can retrofit but it's not as thorough as a fully engineered system from the factory. No doubt it can still work as one but the driveability and long term durability are big question marks.

As for NGV in Malaysia, perhaps you want to hire a NGV taxi for the whole day, including the time when it goes into Petronas for refuelling, then you would understand why NGV vehicles for the masses is not viable just as yet...

Thanks.. Understand.

If all when well, I should be with a 325i UK Spec, made 1992, reg 1998, 5 speed trans, Sunroof, ori spec. Flywheel seal leak is the only problem.. any advice? WHat is the max I should pay for?

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I knew it! The government's move is so predictable. Instead of reducing the price of the petrol by following the current market price, they would rather maintain it or increase it slightly by reducing the amount of sulphur content. As I said before, the government will never lower the petrol price. This move will definitely benefit those who own 530d or any diesel car for that matter. I am neither against nor supporting the government's move, but it was a very smart and smooth move indeed. This move is entirely environmental related and has little to do with economics. Those who commute daily with kapcais and petrol powered cars will feel the pinch. Gainers would be - diesel powered luxury car owners and of course, the government and the environment.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I kinda agree wz u but BMW is research into Hydrogen n Biodiesel also electric for their 7 series n X series.

Think again on our future n the ultimate power we can use for our UDM.. With the same cost u can drive a V12 4.4 and only pay RM0.70 per 100km (biodiesel) or the V10 5.0 (M5 engine) on Hydrogen while just paying RM1.20 per 100km

Future is soon... and I wish to see UDM with huge engine and power...

If we stay with petrol and if the price goes up to RM8 per liter.. I am sure less people will drive their UDM while BMW might drop their engine size to 1.6cc or 1.8cc or even worse new A Class will out sell 3 series..

Petrol will not last for long..some say only for another 30 years.

To sum it up:

Hydrogen powered BMWs - long way to go. Not many petrol stations have this facility even in Germany.

NGV - The technology is here but still lack of support. Same problem as above.

Fuel cell - expensive to develop. Even if there is one, nobody would be happy to pay for it even though it is extremely environmentally friendly.

Biodiesel - this has got potential. But, for the time being I am not going to touch that.

Electric Hybrid - This is going to be the next mainstream. The big player is Toyota/Lexus. Even Porsche is having talks with Toyota to develop this technology for its sports cars. Sooner or later, even BMW got to follow Toyota's footsteps. It is cheaper, feasible and already PROVEN!

Clean diesels - We are just about to have a taste of this new energy when other parts of the world are already bored with it. Very, very economical and very clean. The present technology has no problem to cater for this. Not a bad alternative at all.

 

[anaksarawak]

Anyone know the locations of all the NGV stations?

 

[LCP]

Hmmm, easy way to tell is Petronas station with super long taxi queue... maybe can check Petronas website?

 

[anaksarawak]

Hmmm, easy way to tell is Petronas station with super long taxi queue... maybe can check Petronas website?

Will you consider converting to dual fuel? If the conversion cost is RM2500??

 

[fabianyee]

Will you consider converting to dual fuel? If the conversion cost is RM2500??

Won't consider it for BMW. Maybe other cars but still depends on the availability of NGV pumps. If time = money, then you'll be wasting money waiting in line to pump NGV, unless you have a NGV taxi and the saving justifies time spent.

 

[anaksarawak]

Fuel-efficient engines, vehicles on offer at Geneva Motor Show

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP): Fuel efficiency through new technology and hybrid vehicles will be a top theme at this year's Geneva Motor Show, with DaimlerChrysler displaying a lower-emission diesel engine and Toyota unveiling its Hybrid X concept marrying an electric motor with a gas engine.

The 77th edition of the show comes amid stronger concern about global warming and the environment, and a debate about auto emission limits in Europe. One sharp focus is on making engines more fuel-efficient and more environmentally conscious _ while helping to maintain a healthy bottom line.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes brand will unveil its BLUETEC emission-control technology in combination with a consumption-optimized four-cylinder diesel, an engine that could lower emissions while increasing gas mileage.

"Our diesel strategy is an effective answer to the question of how to save fuel and, therefore, CO2, how to further reduce all exhaust emissions,'' said DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche.

Japanese automaker Toyota Corp. is also slated to have the next-step designs of its hybrid Prius models, which uses electricity, batteries and a gas-powered internal combustion.

As it moves to combat global warming, the European Union has set a goal of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometer per vehicle by 2012, down from around 163 grams per kilometer on average now.

Smaller and more fuel-efficient cars from China will be getting attention. China's Brilliance JinBei Automobile unveils its first car aimed at European consumers, the BS 6, to be distributed through HSO Motors Europe.

"The exclusive ambiance of this top salon forms a tremendous springboard for launching our top of the range model, the BS 6, and for the introduction of the Brilliance brand to the European market,'' said Hans-Ulrich Sachs, chairman and managing director of HSO.

China is more and more a crucial market and source of partners for Europe's big automakers, and last week DaimlerChrysler, which is in the midst of reorganizing its American Chrysler Group, announced a plan to start selling Chinese-made cars under the Chrysler name in North America and western Europe.

"Small vehicles such as these will allow Chrysler Group brands to compete in segments in which the brands do not currently compete, and which are especially important in price- and fuel-economy sensitive markets,'' the German-U.S. automaker said in a statement.

Other highlights:

For those still in the market for SUVs, upcoming models of GM's GMC Acadia and Toyota's Highlander offer improved internal seating.

Previous models have typically favored bench seats in the back, but now designers are more keen on letting occupants move from one seat to the next without having to stumble or crawl by installing aisle seats, or captain's chairs, in the second and even third rows.

Meanwhile, struggling Ford Motor Co., which is trying to stage a turnaround amid billions of dollars in losses in recent months, is bringing a new version of its Mondeo, an important vehicle as the company seeks to gain ground in the sedan market with SUVs in disfavor because of low gas mileage.

"We wanted to create an emotional connection with the new Mondeo that would attract people from an aesthetic point of view even before they appreciate its technology,'' said Martin Smith, executive director of design at Ford of Europe.

The car will come in four-door, five-door hatchback and station wagon styles.

Germany's BMW AG is set to show off a restyled 5-Series, a key sales generator, while Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest car maker, will have its new Golf Estate on display, a roomier version of the standby Golf line.

Among the concept cars _ ideas that might or might not go into production _ DaimlerChrysler's Dodge goes for a sportier tone with its Demon, a compact roadster with a fierce front end that recalls older model British sports cars.

In all, more than 250 companies are signed up for the 11-day show, taking up nearly 77,000 square meters at the Geneva Palexpo.

 

[anaksarawak]

NGV on MINI

Full Story

http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cf...els-mini-and-ngv-promote-tezuka-exhibition-au

MINI Marvels: MINI and NGV Promote TEZUKA Exhibition (AU)

MINI, as the ultimate automotive icon of smart, sophisticated, fun motoring is delighted to announce it will be the Principal Sponsor of a ground-breaking Melbourne exhibition honouring the father of the Manga (Japanese comic picture) genre, TEZUKA Osamu.

In Japan, Tezuka Osamu is acknowledged as an artistic master, heralded as an icon in the field of Japanese manga. In the West he is best known for Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion which were serialised internationally for television in the 1960s.

‘Tezuka: the Marvel of Manga’ opens at NGV International on 3 November 2006 and will introduce Australian audiences to Tezuka’s extraordinary exploration of the manga form.

MINI has devised a trio of specially adorned cars to promote the exhibition. The two MINI Cabrios and one MINI hardtop feature full-wrap body styling complete with scenes depicting some of Tezuka’s greatest creations.

Tezuka (1928 – 1989) created over 700 manga titles during his lifetime. His work is acclaimed for its complexity and originality.

Tony Ellwood, Deputy Director, NGV said: “The planning of ‘Tezuka: the Marvel of Manga’ has involved over five years of complex negotiations to release important material from Tezuka Productions in Tokyo. This is the first time Tezuka’s original drawings have been seen in the West.”

“MINI is excited to be associated this exhibition,” said Jason Miller, Marketing Manager, MINI.

“We appreciate that true artistry comes in many forms and the dedication and passion of Tezuka for his art provides pure joy to his fans. We hope the exhibition will open up this art to a wider audience.

“We have created three very distinctive MINIs to celebrate our sponsorship of the exhibition, using a full body wrap vinyl coating that turns the car into a rolling billboard for Tezuka’s art,” Jason said.

“The result is truly eye-catching.”

‘Tezuka: the Marvel of Manga’ features black-and-white ink drawings for Tezuka’s manga, as well as colourful designs for covers and posters. Over 200 original works are presented, from the late 1940s to the late 1980s.

‘Tezuka: the Marvel of Manga’ has been curated by Philip Brophy – artist, curator, writer and Australia’s leading authority on Japanese manga and animation.

“Tezuka is revered as the figurehead of the manga and amime industries in Japan,” Mr Brophy said. “This exhibition will reveal the striking originality of his manga; its technical inventiveness, extraordinary calligraphic dynamism and its close relationship to his anime.”

The exhibition has been organised in association with Tezuka Productions in Tokyo.

The exhibition is on display at NGV International from 3 November 2006 – 28 January 2007. Admission: Adult $12 / Concession $8 / Family $32.

‘Tezuka: the Marvel of Manga’ is a National Gallery of Victoria Touring Exhibition. It will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW from 23 February – 29 April 2007, followed by a tour to the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco later in the year.

 

[anaksarawak]

Bmw And Nasa Conclude Test Period Of Bmw Hydrogen 7

BMW AND NASA CONCLUDE TEST PERIOD OF BMW HYDROGEN 7

Eight-Week-Long Test Underscores Companies' Mutual Support of Hydrogen Technologies

Cape Canaveral, FL - As NASA engineers prepare to launch the Space Shuttle Endeavour today, BMW of North America and NASA announced the successful completion of an eight-week test period of the BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first-ever hydrogen-powered luxury sedan.

The test period, which was initiated under a Space Act Agreement between NASA and BMW, underscores the organizations' shared commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and to exploring innovative transportation concepts and alternative energy sources.

"We are very proud to have been able to offer this test period of the BMW Hydrogen 7 to NASA, an organization that truly is on the forefront of discovery and innovation and with whom we share a unique common goal: the use and ongoing research of liquid hydrogen solutions," said Karl-Heinz Ziwica, Vice President of Engineering, BMW of North America.
"It is the high energy density of liquid hydrogen that allows the space shuttle to be accelerated into space. The same concept is used to power the BMW Hydrogen 7. Using hydrogen as a fuel can potentially reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent. The BMW Hydrogen 7 is tangible proof that hydrogen-drive vehicles are a very viable option for the future of sustainable mobility, and we're pleased that NASA was able to experience it first-hand."

During the test period, NASA personnel had full access to the fleet of BMW Hydrogen 7s, which run on a form of liquid hydrogen similar to what NASA uses in its shuttles. During their time with NASA, the vehicles - which feature a dual combustion engine capable of running on liquid hydrogen or gasoline and shifting seamlessly between the two - were conveniently refueled using the space center's liquid hydrogen fueling supply located on the space center's premises.

The BMW Hydrogen 7
Last year, BMW underscored its commitment to hydrogen-drive technologies with the debut of the BMW Hydrogen 7 - the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance automobile - to help stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long term. The car comes equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on either liquid hydrogen or gasoline and is based on the BMW 760Li. The V12 cylinder engine delivers 260 hp; the top speed of the Hydrogen 7 is 143 mph and acceleration 0-60 mph is 9.2 sec. When driving in hydrogen mode, emissions of the BMW Hydrogen 7 are virtually nothing but water vapor. Since the start of research and development in alternative fuel sources more than 25 years ago, BMW has focused on liquid hydrogen as the appropriate source of energy for the automobile. The car features a high-tech vacuum super-insulated hydrogen tank in which liquid hydrogen can be stored at the extremely low temperature of -423 ° Fahrenheit (-253 °Celsius) for a long period of time - the same insulating effect as a 17-meter-thick layer of Styrofoam. One hundred BMW Hydrogen 7s have been built, and 25 are used in test programs in the US. The cars have already covered more than 1.3 million miles in test programs around the globe.

 

[1+2=3]

Not a real bmw = http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/2007/news/ac-schnitzer-builds-fastest-gas-car-552bhp-v10-e92/

somehow, only real bmw's run on petrol..

 

[anaksarawak]

Not a real bmw = http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/2007/news/ac-schnitzer-builds-fastest-gas-car-552bhp-v10-e92/

somehow, only real bmw's run on petrol..

real bmw (7series) run on hydrogen

 

[1+2=3]

its actually very common to see dual fuel bmw's in other countries geoffrey. Thailand is one example, with many bimmers running NGV. in europe, you have quite a few choices for dedicated kits to convert your bmw to LPG.

NGV pumps have long queues in malaysia, but not always, and you can still get a fillup quickly at certain times. at the very least, you can still run on petrol till you get your NGV fillup.

 

[anaksarawak]