Comments on: BMW heat harnessing technology

By: Car Fanatic

Car Fanatic — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:56:43 +0000

of course wealthy people car baout saving money, how do you think they got rich.

By: Tom R

Tom R — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:33:33 +0000

Yes, ElecEng, dont forget though
The rich and wealthy just like more funny looking stuff added to their features list to look like their car is more advanced.
As to what it does, who cares?

Plus, these cars have been pioneering vehicles for technology that comes down to us, the rich pay to be guinea pigs for it =)

By: ElecEng

ElecEng — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:22:22 +0000

This technology would then be more beneficial for heavier/luxury vehicles which the added weight is smaller in comparison to the same added weight in a lighter/more compact vehicle.
It would mean that this would benefit those who are already wealthy…as if they care about saving 2% fuel…

By: AB

AB — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:05:40 +0000

Contrary to what you say re German vs Japanese and costs.
As an example RACV recently tested the new Golf against the new Mazda 3.
The most interesting part was the cost of servicing and spares.

The total cost for comapartive ‘common’ replacement parts for the Mazda were more than double that of the Golf!

By: Car Fanatic

Car Fanatic — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:02:03 +0000

Maybe that is why they got 2% instead of closer to 10%, buy hey any improvement is good

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:48:46 +0000

Wouldnt the extra weight of these new components offset any fuel consumption benefits

By: Tom R

Tom R — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:27:59 +0000

The 2% is not in relation to the interior heating dude…

Its the thermo-electric generation to save the load on the engine generating electricity.

By: G

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:05:17 +0000

Maybe they can only manage 2% because any more would heat the interior too much.

By: Tom R

Tom R — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:08:17 +0000

This is the difference between the germans and the Japanese (not including others, and i admit to stereotyping here).

BMW will keep adding very complex and expensive extra componentry that barely any mechanics properly understand, to save… say, 10% fuel consumption.

The Japanese will just make a smaller engine.
You lose power with the Japanese car, but it costs a third as much to get repaired and you can take it down the road instead of all the way into the city.

I commend BMW for its approach, its very much needed…. but 2%? Im SURE technology like that can be made to increase efficiency more than that. If the majority of two thirds (e.g 60%) of the energy is lost via this heat, then why can they only save 2% of it?
And dont tell me the heat from the exhaust manifold is not enough to heat the cabin in a diesel, try grabbing onto it after a trip to the shops.

Theres very much a mighty argument to be made here…
Ill support BMW with cheers, while I go and buy a Honda =P

By: Yanzo

Yanzo — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:49:17 +0000

2% oh wow! that’s a lot of fuel saved!