BMW BLOG

On 9th September 2008, the ÖkoGlobe award ceremony took place in the presence of German politician Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer. The award is presented by the DEVK insurance group, the Automobil-Club Verkehr and the Center Automotive Research, Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences.

It marks the second consecutive year in which the BMW Group has won this coveted distinction. In the category “Development of the Combustion Engine”, Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW’s Director of Development, accepted the ÖkoGlobe 2008 on behalf of the BMW Group. It was awarded in recognition of research on implementing the Thermoelectric Generator in the car. This enables the utilisation of energy from waste heat from the combustion engine and is an example of how the BMW Group is exploiting new potentials for energy generation.

Prof. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Director Center Automotive Research, said at the award presentation: “The BMW Group’s EfficientDynamics measures for raising the efficiency of series production vehicles point the way ahead for the automotive industry. The Thermoelectric Generator shows how this efficiency enhancement can be further developed in the future. Thanks to EfficientDynamics, the BMW Group has succeeded in maintaining driving pleasure while at the same time contributing to the lowering of emissions.”

In his response, Dr. Klaus Draeger said: “We feel extremely honoured by what is now our third ÖkoGlobe, which we have been awarded this time for our Thermoelectric Generator. It strengthens our resolve to continue developing BMW EfficientDynamics for the benefit of our customers and of the environment.”

Up to September 2008, the BMW Group had already delivered more than 1 million vehicles with BMW EfficientDynamics technology to customers. 28 BMW Group models already have CO2 emissions of 140g CO2/km or lower. Until the end of this year 150 million litres of gasoline will be saved in comparison to 2006 and the environment will be disburdened of 370.000 tons CO2.

 [Source: BMW via GermancarScene ]