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Geely sends medical equipment and supplies to Malaysia and other countries

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic situation in China has improved, the country is able to think of helping other countries even though it still has many cases to attend to domestically. Government and private organisations have been sending medical personnel and much-needed medical supplies to a number of countries and the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), together with the Li Shufu Charity Foundation are among them.

Geely Holding, which Proton is a part of, has begun shipping medical supplies to areas in Southeast Asia and Europe that are experiencing coronavirus outbreaks. The first batch of donated medical supplies was sent to Sweden and Germany for local distribution to hospitals.

For Malaysia, the Group will donate testing kits and masks to hospitals and treatment facilities in need.

Earlier in January, Geely Holding and the Li Shufu Charity Foundation established a special fund totalling 200 million RMB (about RM124 million) to support the prevention and control of the coronavirus epidemic. The foundation established by Geely Holding’s founder, Li Shufu, will purchase and distribute urgently needed medical supplies including Personal Protective Equipment, test kits, masks, disinfectants, and ventilators according to the needs of the severely affected areas.

As the pandemic grows around the world, Geely Holding and its global family stands united and will make full use of the Group’s synergetic strength in the fight against the virus. Geely Holding and its subsidiaries around the world are strictly following national guidelines where they operate to protect employees and prevent the spread of the virus.

On top of assistance from Geely Holding and the Li Shufu Charity Foundation, Geely subsidiary companies around the world are providing their own assistance to local communities in distress. Volvo Cars in Sweden and Geely Sweden have donated over 12,000 medical masks to local hospitals. Benelli Motorbikes has begun shipping masks from China to affected areas in Italy. Geely Auto Technical (Deutschland) near Frankfurt, Germany has been working with local authorities to distribute medical masks and gloves. London Electric Vehicle Company has started an initiative providing drivers nationwide with a 3-month finance payment holiday.

“As the situation continues to normalize in China, Geely Holding has not forgotten the help it received from friends and family around the world. The fight against the coronavirus is not one that can be won alone. Together we are strong and together we will be victorious,” the company said in a statement.

Tighter restrictions on Penang Bridge crossing, Jln Duta toll plaza also restricted

Five days have passed since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was introduced and the restrictions will continue to the last day of this month. The MCO aims to limit movements of the public, who are supposed to remain at home, in order to slow down if not stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the country.

While most people have been following the directive to stay home (but can go out to purchase essentials and for valid reasons), there are also many who ignore it. Fortunately, the police are tolerant and keep offering advice to persuade them to stay home rather than just arrest them since they are committing an offence.

It seems that there are many who still do not understand the seriousness of the situation and continue to travel for social reasons, so the police (now assisted by the army) are tightening things up. Besides more roadblocks, travel from Penang island to the mainland is not permitted unless there are valid reasons (buying vegetables is not accepted).

Jalan Duta Toll Plaza — *File picture of the Jalan Duta toll plaza.*

It has also been learnt that the toll plazas at Jalan Duta and Damansara on the edge of Kuala Lumpur are closed to traffic going towards the North-South Expressway. Only those who have valid reasons and permits will be allowed to pass through; all others will be told to turn around and go home. The restriction is likely to be until March 31, 2020, the last day of the MCO.

Incidentally, if you are planning to use an ATM, you can only do so between 7 am and 10 pm during the period of the MCO. Outside of those hours, the ATMs will be offline. While online banking services will be available as usual, operations at banks may be limited.

“You should expect some disruption or delays in normal branch operations in line with the need to ensure effective crowd containment. Some branches may be closed and branches that are open will have limited counter services or reduced operating hours,” Bank Negara explained in its latest FAQ.

Toyota Mirai FCEV fleet in Germany clocks total of over 5 million kms

As Toyota prepares to start production of the second generation of its Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), one of its customers in Europe has covered over 5 million kilometres with its Mirai fleet. CleverShuttle, a ride pooling service in Germany, has set a record of sorts for having the most used Mirai fleet in the world.

During the two and a half years that the company has been running the Mira, its cars have covered a distance equivalent to six and a half times the distance from Earth to the moon and back.

“Fuel cell electric vehicles such as Toyota Mirai became an important pillar for us, thanks to their reliability. They have allowed us to provide countless passengers with comfortable rides, emitting nothing but water vapour,” said Jan Hofmann, COO & CO-Founder of CleverShuttle

CleverShuttle acquired its first batch of Mirais in September 2017 with 20 units initially which were offered in Hamburg. The fleet was progressively expanded up to 45 cars which were distributed at several German locations.

Reliability a strong point
Throughout this period, no repairs or parts replacements were needed, apart from regular maintenance, according to Ferry M.M. Franz, Director of Toyota Motor Europe in Berlin. “The experience of driving 5 million kilometres shows that fuel cell vehicles are already perfectly suitable for everyday use. No technical defects whatsoever and the unrestricted performance of the fuel cell, with mileage up to 180,000 kilometres per car so far, demonstrate the maturity and durability of Toyota’s fuel cell system,” he said.

The Mirai was introduced in 2014 and has been available in Europe since 2015. It is available to both private and commercial customers. The 4-seater is emission-free, requiring only hydrogen which the fuel cell converts into electrical energy to power the motors.

The combined output of the electric motors is 113 kW (154 ps) and on a full tank of hydrogen, the Mirai can travel up to 500 kms. Unlike a battery pack which requires some time to recharge, refuelling the Mirai is said to take just under 3 minutes. Of course, hydrogen stations are limited at this time and it will be a while before a widespread network is established.

Technically sophisticated with its advanced technology, the Mirai has served as a catalyst for increasing global awareness of how a future clean and sustainable hydrogen society might be achieved. Just as the Prius hybrid has been progressively improved since it was launched in the late 1990s, the next Mirai will mark a new stage for FCEV technology. Improvements in fuel cell system performance and increased hydrogen storage capacity will extend its driving range.

Porsche to use 3D-printing technology for bucket seats

Seating is an important aspect of driving and especially with sportscars, properly designed seats are vital for car control and comfort as they enable the driver’s body to be positioned correctly. Porsche will soon revolutionise sporty seating with an innovative alternative to conventional bucket seat upholstery with the concept study ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’.

With this new technology, the sportscar manufacturer is once again underlining its close ties to motorsports. In this case, the personalised sports seat follows the principles of driver-specific seat fitting customary in professional motorsports.

In this study, the central section of the seat – in other words, the seat and backrest cushions – is partly produced by a 3D-printer. Customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels (hard, medium, soft) for the comfort layer.

“The seat is the interface between the human and the vehicle and is thus important for precise, sporty handling. That’s why personalised seat shells customised for the driver have been standard in racing cars for a long time now,” said Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche. “With the ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’, we’re once again giving customers the opportunity to experience technology carried over from motor sports.”

Close-up of the 3D lattice structure — *Close-up of the lattice structure*

In addition to an ergonomic fit similar to that found in racing cars, this seat also delivers a unique design, lower weight, improved comfort and passive climate control. The 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat is based on the lightweight full-bucket seat from Porsche and features a sandwich construction.

This consists of a base support made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) is bonded to a breathable comfort layer consisting of a mixture of polyurethane-based materials made using additive manufacturing – in other words in a 3D-printer.

The outer skin of the concept seat is made from Racetex and features a specific perforation pattern for climate control. Window panels provide a view of exposed coloured components in the 3D-printed lattice structure and give the full-bucket seat a distinctive design.

Porsche 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat — *Visible components of the comfort layer*

The 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat will be available from Porsche Tequipment as a driver’s seat for the 911 and 718 ranges from May 2020. The range will initially be limited to 40 seat prototypes for use on racetracks in Europe in combination with a 6-point seatbelt.

Feedback from customers will be incorporated into the development process. As a next step, street-legal 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seats in three different firmness levels and colours will be available ex-works from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur from mid-2021.

Porsche 718 — *The new seats will be available for the latest 718 (above) and 911 models.*

In the long-term, the technology will also enable fully personalised solutions if sufficient customers express an interest in this. In addition to an extended range of colours, seats adapted to the individual customer’s specific body contour will then also be developed and offered.

Visit www.porsche.com.my to know more about the latest products and services available in Malaysia.

Volkswagen’s 1966 Classic transformed into a 21st century zero emissions vehicle

In due course, it will be possible for owners of the original Volkswagen T1 to make a conversion of the powertrain to a zero emissions electric drive system. Volkswagen Commercia Vehicles (VWCV), collaborating with eClassics, has developed a conversion package which is demonstrated in the e-BULLI all-electric concept vehicle.

VWCV engineers and designers formed a team along with drive system experts from Volkswagen Group Components and eClassics (a company which specialises in electric car conversions) to develop the e-BULLI. For the concept model, they chose a T1 Samba Bus produced in 1966 which, prior to its conversion, spent half a century on the roads of California.

New electric drive system components
The original 44 ps 4-cylinder boxer engine is replaced by a silent Volkswagen electric motor generating 61 kW (83 ps) and 212 Nm, the torque being more than double that from the engine before. The comparison of the engines’ power output alone makes it very evident that the concept vehicle will have completely new drive characteristics with performance unattainable using the original combustion engine.

Power transmission is by means of a 1-speed gearbox. The automatic transmission has 5 positions (P, R, N, D, B) and in position B, the driver can vary the degree of recuperation, ie of energy recovery when braking. The e-BULLI is claimed to have top speed of 130 km/h (electronically limited), 25 km/h more than the original T1.

1966 VW T1 — *The original T1 Samba Bus*

Just like the powertrain of the 1966 T1, the combination of gearbox and electric motor integrated in the back of the 2020 e-BULLI drives the rear axle. A 45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides energy for the electric motor while a DC/DC converter provides 12V power for on-board electronics.

As in the new ID.3 and future ID.BUZZ, the battery pack is housed centrally in the vehicle floor. This layout lowers the e-BULLI’s centre of gravity and thus improves its driving characteristics.

80% recharge in 40 minutes
The battery pack is charged via a combined charging system (CCS) socket. It enables charging with AC or DC electrical supply. Thanks to the CCS charging socket, the battery pack can also be charged at DC fast-charging points with up to 50 kW of charging power. In this case, recharging up to 80% energy levels can be done within 40 minutes. The range with a fully charged battery packs is claimed to be more than 200 kms.

Redesigned chassis
Compared to the T1, riding in the e-BULLI will feel completely different. This is due to the redesigned chassis which consists of multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil-over struts. There is also a new rack-and-pinion steering system and 4 internally-ventilated disc brakes.

Click here to know more about the Volkswagen models available in Malaysia

New looks
In parallel with the new electric drive system, an interior concept has been created for the e-BULLI that is both stylish and avant-garde. The new look and corresponding technical solutions were developed by the VCVW design centre together with a team from VWCV Vintage Vehicles and the Communications department.

The designers modernised the exterior of the iconic vehicle with great sensitivity and finesse, including giving it a two-tone paintwork finish in Energetic Orange Metallic and Golden Sand Metallic MATTE.

Details such as the new round LED headlamps with daytime running lights modernise the looks. On the outside at the rear, there are also LED charge indicators. They signal to a driver walking up to the e-BULLI how much charge the lithium-ion battery still has.

Original interior concept modernised
The 8-seat interior has a few things not expected to be in a T1. While the designers have re-imagined a lot of the interior, they did not forget the original concept and the seating is one of the new features. In keeping with the external paintwork, it is also in two colours. Solid wood looking like that of a ship’s deck is used for the floor throughout and, with the nice bright leather tones, the electrified Samba Bus takes on a maritime feel. This impression is strengthened by the large panoramic folding roof.

The new speedometer is based on the original while a two-digit display within it creates a link to the modern era. There is a small detail in the centre of the speedometer: a stylised Bulli symbol. A multitude of further information is shown via a tablet integrated into the roof console.

Music on board comes from an authentic-looking retro-style radio which is equipped with cutting edge technology such as DAB+, Bluetooth and USB. The radio is linked to a sound system with high quality components, including an active subwoofer.

The e-BULLI will be available at prices starting from 64,900 euros (about RM307,000) for the T1 conversion (complete with redesigned front and rear axles), with T2 and T3 conversions also being offered by eClassics in Europe.

Seventh Skoda student concept car project underway

Skoda, the Czech carmaker has been training and developing talent for more than 90 years at its Vocational School in Mlada Boleslav. In the first year, 58 students began their training in three different specialist areas. Today, more than 900 students (13% female) are enrolled in 13 full-time courses and three postgraduate programmes at the Skoda Academy.

The quality of training will be put to the test in the seventh Skoda student concept car project. 20 students from the academy are involved in the ambitious project this year. They have decided to design and build an open-top Spider version of the new compact Scala model.

Watching and learning from the professionals
At a workshop in the Skoda Design department, the participants met the company’s Head Designer, Oliver Stefani, and put their first ideas down on paper with him and his team. The still-unnamed project car, which the students will be constructing according to the design, will be presented to the public in early June.

During the visit, they were allowed to watch Stefani and his team in their day-to-day work and to create their own drawings. “Despite the increasing use of computers and simulations, drawing is still an essential part of automotive designers’ work. With every stroke, an idea turns into something real. A sketch is the first of many steps on the long and exciting path to a new car,” explained Stefani.

Support from engineers
Throughout this project, the up-and-coming talent will receive support from engineers and experienced employees from the areas of technical development, design and production within the company. The apprentices have expressed a wish to make the car’s clear lines and emotive shapes more prominent in the spider version to emphasize the vehicle’s overall dynamics.

“From the beginning, all the participants showed great enthusiasm and determination. Their sketches are very impressive, I really like the concept,” said Jiri Hadascok, exterior design coordinator at Skoda, adding that the professionals were impressed with their enthusiasm and receptiveness.

Skoda Scala — *The Scala model which the students’ concept car is adapted from.*

Designing a concept vehicle and then building it by hand is the highlight of all apprenticeships. “We are all delighted to be part of this project. As a student, where else do you get the chance to put your own ideas and vision into designing a car and then actually build it yourself? Drawing our first sketches was lots of fun, and we learned a lot from Oliver Stefani and his team,” said one of the participants, Vojtech Spitalsky.

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