BMW wins ÖkoGlobe 2008 award for thermoelectric generator

BMW has won an ÖkoGlobe award for the second straight year. The award was presented to the Bavarian automaker for its work on a thermoelectric generator. Um, what's that? Basically, using a process known as the Seebeck effect, electricity can be generated by a difference in temperatures. All right, fine... who cares? Under the hood of every car ever sold that has an internal combustion engine, a huge amount of heat is generated while the engine creates power to drive the vehicle. In fact, only about a quarter of all the energy released by the fuel's combustion is utilized in even the most efficient engines. Therefore, there is a great source of untapped energy already in each car on the road. BMW's researchers and engineers would love to tap into that unused energy with a thermoelectric generator, which could help capture some of that potential energy in the form of electricity that could then help power either the car directly or at least some of its peripheral systems. Very cool, and we hope something good comes from the research.

[Source: BMW]
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Willis - 11/15/2008 9:06:12 PM

-5 Boost

Not really. Companies like Volkswagen or Mercedes are also very strong in innovation, as is Audi. BMW is probably the least innovative among that crowd.

synx - 11/16/2008 12:22:36 AM

+6 Boost

My god, you are so wrong! BMW is probably one of the most innovative companies in the world.

Willis - 11/16/2008 6:10:57 AM

-5 Boost

They are. But companies like Volkswagen or Mercedes have historically a longer list of innovations per year than BMW - which seems to be still the case. I am not being biased here, but relying on facts.

LUXCAR32 - 11/15/2008 2:44:09 PM

+4 Boost

looks like the generator thing from ironman haha.
but still really cool and amazing if it can be put to good use.

bmwM3 - 11/15/2008 3:44:37 PM

+4 Boost

Great idea,this with the brake regeneration and maybe a solar panle on the roof could make for a pretty efficent and cool car.