Electrification Archives

Subaru, Toyota and Mazda Are Developing New Engines For Carbon-Neutral Fuel Compatibility

Subaru Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Mazda Motor Corporation are taking significant steps towards carbon neutrality by developing new engines tailored for electrification and compatibility with carbon-neutral (CN) fuels. This collaboration underscores their commitment to innovative solutions that optimise integration with electric drive units, motors, and batteries, while also focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of internal combustion engines (ICEs).

Key Initiatives and Goals

Development of Compact, Efficient Engines:

– Integration with Electric Drive Units: The new engines are designed to work seamlessly with electric motors and batteries, enhancing overall vehicle performance and efficiency.

– Smaller, More Compact Design: These engines will revolutionise vehicle packaging by being more compact, allowing for design improvements such as lower hoods and better aerodynamics. This contributes to enhanced fuel efficiency and compliance with stricter emissions regulations.

Decarbonisation Efforts:

– Carbon-Neutral Fuels: The engines will be compatible with a range of carbon-neutral fuels, including e-fuels (synthetic fuels), biofuels, and liquid hydrogen. This shift away from fossil fuels aims to make ICEs more sustainable.

– Broadening Powertrain and Fuel Options: Under racing conditions, the companies are exploring various powertrain and fuel options to ensure robust and versatile engine performance that aligns with carbon neutrality goals.

Shared Vision and Collaboration

Subaru, Toyota, and Mazda are driven by a deep understanding of their customers’ diverse needs and lifestyles. This has led them to develop engines that not only embody their respective brands but also cater to unique customer preferences. Their joint efforts focus on:

– Acting with Passion and Purpose: The companies are united in their approach to tackling carbon emissions, focusing on carbon as the primary enemy rather than the engines themselves.

– Maintaining Supply Chains and Jobs: By advancing engine technology and expanding fuel options, they aim to sustain the supply chains and jobs that support the automotive industry.

Practical Implementation and Future Outlook

– Innovative Vehicle Design: The compact nature of the new engines allows for more flexible vehicle designs, enhancing both aesthetic and functional aspects of future vehicles.

– Compliance and Performance: Emphasis on meeting stringent emissions regulations while maintaining high efficiency and performance standards ensures that these engines will be both practical and eco-friendly.

Subaru, Toyota, and Mazda’s collaborative approach reflects their shared dedication to achieving carbon neutrality through multiple pathways. By working together with like-minded partners, they aim to create a sustainable future for Japan’s automotive industry, balancing innovation with environmental responsibility. This initiative highlights their commitment to pioneering technologies that support a broader adoption of carbon-neutral solutions while preserving the essence and performance of traditional ICE vehicles.

Future-Gen Electric Myvi In The Making?

National automaker Perodua has provided a glimpse of how its all-electric path might develop in the future by showcasing that vision through its Electric Motion Online (EMO) concept.

The EMO, an electric hatchback visualisation that made its premiere at the Malaysia Autoshow today, isn’t a full-sized study as you might assume; instead, it’s a 1:6 scale model that offers an exterior design perspective exploring an electrified future.

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BMW i5 Closer To Production

The i5 will be the sixth BMW model to carry the i badging when it is officially introduced later this year, but it is just as important as any other BMW.

The i5 is launching in conjunction with combustion-engined variants of the new 5 Series, with PHEVs to follow, and is arguably the biggest step for the 5 Series in more than fifty years. The 5 Series is an iconic nameplate with a rich and extensive history, with BMW having sold more than 10 million units over seven generations.

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One In Every Five Cars Sold Will Be An EV In 2023

This year, roughly one in every five cars sold are anticipated to be electric vehicles because of the rising market for them.

The rapid electrification of road transport, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), will have significant effects on the energy sector as it will reduce the requirement for five million barrels of oil per day by the end of the decade.

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GWM Unveils New Energy Vehicles As It Speeds Towards Full Electrification

With the emphasis on New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) which became part of a national policy in China in 2009, the carmakers in the country quickly began work on making the transition to electrified vehicles. Great Wall Motors (GWM), with its leadership in SUVs in China, worked hard to develop NEVs within its brands.

At Auto Shanghai 2023 this week, the carmaker is displaying a range of NEVs from its five major brands -HAVAL, TANK, ORA, POER, and WEY. This is to demonstrate its aim of a major player in the race to be the next leader in the field.

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Selling Ford Trucks In The World’s Most Advanced EV Market?

The Europeans never really liked SUVs because they were seen as big, heavy, consumed excessive fuel and were therefore not good for the environment. Pick-up trucks have been moderately tolerated but generally, they have preferred their small vans and stationwagons if they required something more utilitarian to carry stuff.

Of course, over the past 10 years, European carmakers themselves have also begun offering SUVs but they are more passenger car-like. They are compact and use passenger car platforms and drivetrains, so they are still largely cars with the looks of SUVs. And they are in great demand too…

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JLR’s Rebranding Exercise Drops Land Rover As An Individual Brand

Having been around for 75 years, Land Rover is a brand name that is recognisable all over the world. Its original Defender model had a highly recognisable shape which is embedded in the brand’s design DNA. It is associated with 4×4 vehicles in the same way as Jeep and in fact, spread further around the world than the American brand.

In spite having periods of difficulty at different times in its history, Land Rover soldiered on like the tough vehicles it has produced. Although it can lay claim to having given the world the first premium SUV – the Range Rover – back in 1970, it only truly entered the premium segment when the 21^st century began.

The success of the Range Rover in the premium segment led to the company establishing its name as a brand on its own around 10 years ago. The Range Rover brand would be for the premium models while Land Rover would be for models like the Freelander, Discovery and Defender.

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Bookings For Proton X90 Now Accepted, Launch Likely To Be In May

Since April 8, bookings for the upcoming Proton X90 have been accepted at all authorized Proton 3S/4S outlets (the carmaker says only selected dealers will sell the flagship model). The official prices has not been announced, all powered by a 1.5-litre TGDi 4-cylinder engine with a 48V Mild Hybrid Powertrain and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, making it Proton’s first electrified model.

Going by the schedule of City Previews which run until the end of this month, it would seem that the launch of the new model will take place sometime in May. The City Preview sessions are by invitation only and members of the public can contact Proton 3S/4S Outlets, with walk-ins able to enjoy the ‘flea market session’ from 1 pm to 2 pm only.

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All-New MINI To Be Produced In Germany For The First Time

For all its life, the Mini has been primarily manufactured in England. Even when the Mini became the modern MINI after the name and model rights were acquired by the BMW Group, the original factory in Oxford was also acquired to continue production of the model.

Of course, besides England, the Mini was also assembled locally in some countries, including Malaysia. Same with the MINI, which has been assembled at the Inokom plant in Kedah. Soon, the new MINI model will be produced in Germany for the first time, at the BMW Group’s plant in Leipzig. This makes the production facility the first plant at which vehicles of the BMW and MINI brands are manufactured together.

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Kia Raises Targets For Electrified Vehicle Sales In Quest To Become A Leading Global EV Brand

Kia Corporation to cross the 4-million mark in global sales by 2026, with 25% of the volume made up of electric vehicles (EVs) as its long-term strategy focusses on electrification. By the end of the decade, the Korean carmaker which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group, aims to achieve an annual sales target of 4.3 million units.

It also plans to become a leading EV brand by raising the proportion of electrified car sales to 55% (2.38 million units) in 2030. This is a 7.5% (300,000 units) increase from the 2030 target announced last year, while the global sales target for electrified vehicles has increased by 15.5% (320,000 units).

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