Audi And Hanergy Team Up To Create Solar Roof For Cars

We’re not sure if Audi was directly inspired by the Sion announcement from Sono Motors back in July, but the German car manufacturer have just revealed that it too will be using solar panels to help power one of its future electric vehicles.

Partnering with Alta Devices, a subsidiary of Chinese solar cell firm Hanergy, Audi is developing a panoramic glass roof of solar panels that will provide power for non-essential car systems, such as seat heaters and air conditioning. By utilizing an alternative source of energy for these systems, it will free up the main electric power systems, which will result in an increased range for the vehicle.

For Audi, range is of key importance, as it explained in a statement from Audi Board of Management Member for Procurement Dr. Bernd Martens. “The range of electric cars plays a decisive role for our customers. Together with Alta Devices and Hanergy, we plan to install innovative solar technology in our electric cars that will extend their range and is also sustainable.”

What’s the cost of that extra range? Is it better than putting in more batteries and powering the car with home solar energy? Audi didn’t say.

First Prototype Ready by End of 2017

In time, it is planned that the solar cells will be incorporated to cover the entire roof of the car to create as much energy as practically possible. The ultimate goal is to be able to harness enough solar energy to directly charge the traction battery of the vehicle, which would be a breakthrough for Dr. Bernd Martens. “That would be a milestone along the way to achieving sustainable, emission-free mobility,” he stated.

The first prototype of the vehicle will be ready by the end of 2017. As yet, there’s no indication of when it would enter mass production, but Audi has stated that it wants to have three fully electric vehicles on the market by 2020, and to have a third of all its vehicles covered with fully or partially electric drivetrains by 2025.

This move towards solar coupled with its foray into Formula E further displays Audi’s commitment to electric vehicles as the future of the automotive industry. When the future arrives is the remaining question.

BMW Introduces MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see another electric model sort of announced, but it’s also a bit tiring to see that it’s again a super unrealistic concept and the production version won’t even be unveiled for another 2 years. What’s the point? Honestly, that’s not a rhetorical question — what is the point of fluffy press releases and unrealistic images and designs so far out?

Is it to slowly move the auto press in the direction of electrics? Is it to give investors the impression BMW is on the leading edge of innovation? Is it to present a greener and more socially responsible image of the company? Is it just how the auto industry rolls in general? Is it an attempt to tell customers, “Don’t buy a Tesla, we’ll electrify our options ‘soon’ as well?” Is it to bring attention to the MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid?

Anyway, on to the concept…

Yes, cool looking car! Yes, I’d love it if one were on the market right now! Yes, I’d love to have one in my garage! If only…  This car is named “MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT” (yes, all caps), and a production version will be unveiled in 2019 … presuming plans don’t change, as they have after so many many other concepts rolled into an auto show and out again. This electric concept car will be visible at the IAA Cars 2017 show in Frankfurt in a couple of weeks, starting Saturday, September 16^th.

“With its characteristic go-kart feel and powerful electric motor, the MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT is great fun to drive while also being completely suitable for everyday use – and producing zero emissions to boot. That’s how we at MINI envisage electric mobility in tomorrow’s world,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.

“The systematic electrification of the brand and product portfolio is a mainstay of the BMW Group’s NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy. The MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT offers a thrilling preview of the all-electric production vehicle. MINI and electrification make a perfect match,” added Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

That makes it sound like BMW is betting the house on electric cars. The problem is that the first MINI E rolled out 10 years ago, so it’s unfortunate there isn’t an electric MINI already on the market today. Will I be able to walk into a BMW dealership in 2019 or 2020 and drive away with an electric MINI? If that’s possible, will I have to talk to their special EV guy, assuming he’s not out to lunch, or will all of the staff be well informed and enthusiastic about selling electric cars?

“The MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT is a quintessential MINI – compact, agile, simply the perfect companion for everyday driving. At the same time, it conveys a whole new take on the concept of sportiness,” stated Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. Indeed, it is a striking design that looks far more futuristic and exciting than a conventional MINI (which has its own cute and historical look). But is that just a concept thing? Is the production version going to look anything like this? If not, why waste our time with the yellow highlighting and shiny silver exterior? Well, we’ll just have to wait a couple of years to see.

A press release further explains what is so unique in this MINI ELECTRIC CONCEPT’s design:

“As the electric drive unit does not require any cooling air, the radiator grille is closed for superior aerodynamics. An accent bar in Striking Yellow in the grille with an E badge in the same colour produces a powerful contrasting effect, which is echoed by the styling of the daytime running lights in the all-LED headlight assemblies. The front apron’s simulated “air intakes” are also sealed, yet they still include dark louvres that look like cooling fins. …

“Clearly moulded fibreglass add-on parts along the lower edge of the electric MINI concept serve to intensify the stylish MINI proportions. The car’s silhouette is composed of taut, clean-cut surfaces which produce a minimalist impression. Short overhangs and the characteristic MINI stance on the wheels instil the brand’s trademark dynamics. The paint finish is Reflection Silver – a matt liquid metal colour shade.

“The technical appearance of the car’s sides has been softened with a series of material and colour highlights. An eye-catching E badge above the front wheel is another defining feature to highlight the electric power source. Its shiny finish within the otherwise matt exterior paintwork creates different effects depending on how it catches the light. The interplay between matt and high-gloss surfaces within a shared colour scheme results in a modern look. As well as the badge in the radiator grille, the exterior mirror caps also sport MINI E badges. Colour gradients incorporated into both the side skirts and roof using the accent colour, Striking Yellow, create a unique side profile. The roof goes from matt white to high-gloss yellow, while the yellow finish of the side skirts fades at the top until becoming transparent so that it appears to merge into the body colour. The colour transitions give the car a lighter, fresher and more sophisticated presence while the new Striking Yellow shade provides a new take on the classic yellow colour for the electric MINI.”

To further give the concept car a futuristic feel, the car utilized 3D printing for some of the parts. Which ones? It doesn’t really matter, does it? It’s a concept car.

How about technical specs, potential batteries in the production version, autonomous driving features? Nah, no info on that.

A few of the key catchphrases were repeated several times, though, just in case you didn’t get how vague and useless BMW wanted to be about this toy car.

If you’re a regular CleanTechnica reader, you know me well — I’d be enthusiastically shouting from the top of my local coffee shop about how cool this electric car is, how much I’d enjoy driving it in the city or on country roads, and how much it demonstrates a commitment to clean electric transport from BMW. But as I said at the top, it’s just a bit tiring to report little actual information and a lot of fluff to consumers eager for more genuine electric offerings.

Tesla Collecting More Data As Engineers Quit Autopilot Division

Elon Musk is not a man who is easily deterred. Nearly a year ago, he announced that a Tesla using Autopilot software would drive from Los Angeles to New York City without any input from a human driver before the end of 2017. The end of the year is rapidly approaching, so Father Time is holding Musk’s feet to the fire to make good on his claim.

One facet of Tesla’s Autopilot system — now known as AP 2 — that few people understand or pay much attention to is that every Tesla manufactured since October 2016 has been gathering data from every mile it is driven and sharing that data with the Tesla Mother Ship in Silicon Valley. Operating in “shadow mode,” the system does not directly affect how an individual car operates but it does provide the raw data engineers need to drive progress toward a future in which self driving cars are the norm.

Now, members of the Tesla Motors Club forum indicate that the latest updates to the Autopilot software have expanded the amount of data being collected. After one Model S owner gained access to the data stream being downloaded from his car, Tesla released a statement saying it has begun capturing short video clips from cameras on Model S and Model X vehicles. “We are working hard to improve autonomous safety features and make self-driving a reality for you as soon as possible,” the company now says in its Data Sharing Policy.

The expanded data collection comes at a time when there are rumblings of discontent from within Tesla’s Autopilot division. The Wall Street Journal reported in August that some engineers believe the company is writing checks it can’t cash when it comes to claims about the autonomous driving capability of its cars.

Although the company is careful to say that full autonomy depends on extensive validation of the software and approval from state and federal regulators, it still refers to Autopilot as a “full self-driving” system. That language has led to the departure of several top people who were in charge of Autopilot development for Tesla.

The most recent person to find the exit door was Chris Lattner, a highly respected engineer at Apple who quit after only two months on the job, apparently after butting heads personally with Elon Musk. CNN reported recently that there are still many members of the team who are uncomfortable with the sweeping claims Musk is making for his Autopilot system and the aggressive timetable he has established for its final rollout.

The enhanced data collection suggests the project is still going forward with all possible speed and faster than some within the company are comfortable with. It will be interesting to see whether that transcontinental self driving escape will in fact take place before the end of the year.

Source: Teslarati