The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) has published reports the past six years detailing emissions reductions in the European auto industry. The latest report entitled 2011 Cars & CO2 Report: How Clean Are Europe’s Cars? concludes that automakers in Europe have trimmed carbon emissions by 3.7% compared to 2009 models. The winner in terms of emissions reductions was Volvo Cars with a fleet reduction of 9% from 2009 to 2010. T&E focuses on tailpipe emissions and carbon footprint measured in real-world situations without factoring weight into their analysis.

2011 Cars & CO2 Report analyzed leading automakers by percentage reduction, average emissions and proximity to EU emissions targets. Volvo’s 9% reduction topped the chart with a handful of automakers falling in a range from 2% to 6%. T&E found that Mazda and Honda actually saw increases in their fleet emissions from the 2009 model year. The average vehicle emissions list was led by Fiat (126g/km), Toyota (129g/km) and Peugeot (131g/km). EU emissions standards require average emissions of 130 g/km for each company’s fleet by 2015 with slight variations based on vehicle weight. The report found that Toyota had nearly achieved the 2015 emissions goal last year while Volvo was among the furthest from their goal with an 8% gap to fill.

The success of Volvo Cars in the past year emerged from a focus on clean diesel technology popular among European consumers. The automaker’s V50 DRIVe achieved an emissions level of 99g/km and the V70 DRIVe 119g/km through efficient drive systems. Volvo is currently working on more substantial hybrids and all-electric vehicles though the DRIVe line is Volvo’s strategy for the foreseeable future. The T&E report is likely celebrated within Volvo’s research and management teams though the results show that Volvo had a long way to go before 2010.

T&E’s research seems positive on the whole though the details are disconcerting for automakers that must meet EU guidelines by 2015. Toyota, Peugeot and Fiat represent the only automakers in Europe of the top 15 companies within 5% of the 2015 EU emissions standard. Automakers have pushed hybrid, diesel and alt-fuel vehicles to the fore in the past two years. The questions that remain are whether automakers can introduce more efficient vehicles by 2015 and how emissions can be cut quickly in poor economic circumstances. European corporations and governments may need to invest heavily in eco-friendly vehicles over the next four years to push automakers to expedite green vehicle technology.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has garnered attention over the past year for participating in EV trials and demos. Massachusetts has been targeted by Nissan, BMW and Chevrolet for EV rollouts over the next five years. Coulomb Technologies has supplied $500,000 from a U.S. Department of Energy grant to the state for charger installation and maintenance. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources announced plans last week to add 143 charging stations in 25 communities throughout the state. Adding public chargers for government buildings and parking lots should help state residents adopt plug-in vehicles more readily over the next decade.

The state’s Department of Energy Resources holds $384,000 acquired during a 2007 settlement with an Ohio power plant sued for breaking federal environmental laws. State officials noted that these funds will be used to purchase all 143 stations. Communities and transit officials can apply to the state for financial assistance in cases where installation costs are high. Each community covers the cost for delivering electricity to stations with the option to develop billing mechanisms with local utilities. This subsidization of charging stations should help cash-strapped communities push forward with plug-in vehicle adoption.

Communities selected for new charging stations include several towns designated as “green communities” by state government. The Office of Environmental Management and Affairs provides funding to 74 communities that promote sustainable energy and transportation. The Town of Chelmsford is scheduled to receive two charging stations by 2012. These stations will be located at the town’s fire station and Adams Library, which are located near heavily traveled roads. Another target is the Town of Tyngsborough, a community of 11,292 located in eastern Massachusetts. Town officials are positioning their two chargers in the Department of Public Works parking lot and the Old Town Hall. These locations were selected to serve commuters traveling along Route 3.

Massachusetts will also install 48 charging stations near Logan International Airport and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) facilities. Plug-in vehicle drivers will be able to access stations at garages and surface lots throughout the Logan Airport property. The MBTA also plans installation of charging stations in frequently used lots near Boston. An expansion of charging infrastructure beyond downtown Boston is critical if automakers hope to reach early adopters facing long daily commutes.

BMW and Oxford Brookes University released results last week of the automaker’s year-long MINI E trial in Great Britain. This preliminary research follows a similar study in June by the University of California-Davis dealing with the MINI E trial in the United States. BMW’s Great Britain study was much more detailed thanks to data records in the cars as well as home charging units. The MINI E trial in Great Britain involved 138 drivers splitting 40 vehicles over two six-month periods.

The MINI E trial covered 258,105 miles during 33,345 trips covering spanning last fall through this summer. Trial participants consumed 80,282 kWh of electricity during this period with the average cost of charging throughout the trial at $98 per driver. BMW determined that the highest mileage by a single driver was 7,954 miles with myriad drivers traveling at least 75 miles per day. The typical mileage per driver over a six-month trial was 3,226 miles. This summary of the MINI E trial shows that drivers were able to meet their travel needs without succumbing to the fluctuating costs of gasoline.

BMW has to be pleased with the overwhelming support given by trial participants for the MINI E. A significant majority (80%) of participants stated that they could complete their daily commuting with the MINI E. The presence of regenerative braking actually forced drivers to pay greater attention to their technique with 74% stating that they enjoyed learning new techniques to maximize recuperative energy. Researchers discovered that 80% of drivers were comfortable using the MINI E in wintery conditions and 72% could complete all of their charging needs at home. These tidbits are particularly important as BMW markets the MINI E, the ActiveE and the i3 to skeptical consumers.

Oxford Brookes University conducted surveys of the trial participants to assess their comfort with MINI E. The average time required for comfort with the MINI E’s silent running and regenerative braking was one week.  Trial drivers overwhelmingly (96%) told researchers that they would think about buying an EV in the near future. BMW is no doubt thrilled that 51% said they would pay a price premium of at least 33% above the retail price of a gas-powered car for an EV. Post-trial studies found that 30% of drivers would buy an EV in the next year, showing a broad spectrum of early adopters in Great Britain. BMW’s studies in the United States and Great Britain reveal that EVs have gone from gimmickry to practicality in the eyes of likely customers.

BMW has been busy over the past two years testing electric vehicles throughout the world. The automaker’s MINI E trials in North America and Europe combine real-world testing with public education and marketing. BMW’s ActiveE trial in the United States includes partnerships with government agencies and corporations like Coulomb Technologies. Representatives from BMW recently presented concept versions of the i3 and i8 ahead of their presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show. These concepts represent the latest developments in BMW’s efforts to launch the i brand by 2013.

The BMW i3 is a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) powered by a 125kW electric motor and advanced lithium-ion battery. This all-electric vehicle uses regenerative braking to power auxiliary systems in transit. BMW notes that the i3’s battery pack can be recharged fully in six hours while a quick-charge feature ensures 80% recharging in one hour. The BMW i3 achieves top speeds of 93 miles per hour, which is limited electronically to extend range. Acceleration was critical for the vehicle’s designers as the i3 can reach 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in eight seconds. BMW anticipates releasing the i3 in Europe starting fall 2013.

The BMW i8 combines the automaker’s traditional engine power with advancements achieved during development of the i3. This plug-in hybrid uses the 125kW electric motor found in the i3 as well as a 1.5-liter turbocharged gas engine. BMW estimates that the i3 can achieve a top speed of 155 miles per hour thanks to a formidable drive system. The BMW i8 features a generator adjacent to the gas engine intended to recharge the battery during operation. Early tests found that the i8 has a fuel economy of 78 miles per gallon and an all-electric range of 22 miles per charge. Consumers in Europe can expect the BMW i8 to hit showrooms by fall 2014.

Visitors to Frankfurt Motor Show could learn as much about BMW’s revised approach to manufacturing as their innovative concepts. The company’s LifeDrive body design keeps vehicle weight lower than the competition while meeting vehicle safety standards. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production floor through the life of the vehicle are estimated to be 33% less than the competition based on internal studies. This figure could increase to more than 50% savings if the i3, i8 and their successors use renewable energy. BMW seems poised to corner the market on plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles in Europe if these concepts fulfill these promises.

BMW is kicking off a nationwide trial of the ActiveE sedan in September 2011. This trial will feature 1,000 ActiveE units driven by selected applicants in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and San Diego. The daily journals and regular maintenance trips by ActiveE trial drivers will inform development of the i3 EV slated for release in 2013. BMW is working with Coulomb Technologies to keep ActiveE participants in Boston on the road. Coulomb Technologies will mobilize $37 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to help BMW in the Boston Metro area.

ActiveE drivers in Boston will have access to 150 public charging stations in the area as well as household chargers offered by BMW. The majority of ChargePoint stations in Boston are headed to the 495 Beltway to meet the needs of daily commuters. The BMW ActiveE achieves a per-charge range of 100 miles that can be realized with high concentrations of ChargePoint units. This partnership requires ActiveE drivers to subscribe to Coulomb’s ChargePoint service plan. Coulomb Technologies provides around-the-clock service to subscribers including mobile monitoring of battery charging, GPS navigation and multiple billing choices.

Coulomb Technologies was busy over the past month unveiling expansions to its charging network. The California-based firm currently serves 26,000 vehicles per month in major metro areas from New York to San Francisco. These customers will be better served with Coulomb’s Level 2 charging stations that allow for quick charging. The dual-port Level 2 charger highlighted at Plug-in 2011 will help subscribers stay on the road without significantly lengthening their commutes. Coulomb Technologies also unveiled a cloud-based network management system for commercial subscribers. This system allows utilities and corporations to handle billing, maintenance and energy storage at ChargePoint stations within their purview.

BMW and Coulomb Technologies are focusing their attention on Boston as a microcosm of the problems facing future customers. The Boston metro area experiences high congestion rates on the 495, Route 128 and other highways during traditional drive times. Boston’s fickle weather allows BMW and Coulomb to assess how their technologies withstand heat, cold, rain and snow. The ActiveE trial as well as the ongoing MINI E trial provide ample data for BMW to develop an urban vehicle to meet the needs of the average consumer. Coulomb Technologies could be the big winner in this collaboration with greater publicity to the ChargePoint system in markets with plenty of early adopters.

BMW’s Motorrad subsidiary has experimented with hybrid and all-electric motorcycles over the past decade. The motorcycle brand created the C1-E all-electric motorcycle in 2009 as part of the eSUM safety project carried out by European governments. BMW Motorrad recently hosted Innovation Day 2011 to celebrate the company’s efforts at advancing motorcycle and scooter design. This event also acted as the premiere for the E-Scooter concept. BMW received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development to create the E-Scooter.

The BMW E-Scooter eschews hub motors, main frames and traditional scooter design thanks to an innovative electric drive. Developers swapped out the hub motor for an electric machine next to the battery. This machine supplies power to the rear wheel using a belt pulley and roller chain. The E-Scooter eliminates the extraneous main frame by expanding the aluminum battery casing. BMW Motorrad attached the steering components and shock absorber to the casing. Drivers benefit from liquid-cooled internal components and an air-cooled battery tested for optimum performance.

This all-electric drive system helps the E-Scooter achieve sufficient range and speed for urban drivers. BMW claims that the E-Scooter can travel up to 62 miles per charge. The vehicle’s range is extended by up to 20% thanks to energy recovery during deceleration. The battery pack can be recharged from empty in three hours using standard household outlets. Drivers could travel up to 37 miles per hour on to the E-Scooter, which would be sufficient in dense urban traffic. This all-electric concept is also designed to start and operate on steep hills while carrying two people.

Concept vehicles like the BMW E-Scooter create mixed feelings among consumers interested in eco-friendly transportation. The E-Scooter is among hundreds of prototypes developed in the past decade that demonstrate the auto industry’s ability to develop green vehicles. This vehicle might be priced higher than a standard scooter but would be popular among European and Asian consumers looking for urban transportation. BMW Motorrad epitomizes the time marking of fellow automakers who seem content slowly increasing gas mileage for traditional vehicles while keeping innovative technologies in the lab. The E-Scooter and other concepts need to be realized if a significant impact is to be made on energy costs, emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.

German automakers are flocking toward carbon fiber rather than steel in producing green vehicles over the next decade. The latest automaker to adopt the material for vehicle body construction is BMW, which recently announced a $100 million investment in a carbon fiber plant. This lightweight material has been used for years by cycle manufacturers and Formula One race teams looking to gain an edge on the competition. BMW’s long-term investment in carbon fiber will not only reduce vehicle weight across the fleet but push competitors to develop lighter vehicles.

Representatives from BMW announced plans to expand a nearly completed carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, Washington. This central Washington location will start production of carbon fiber this fall with an annual capacity of 1,500 tons. These materials would be shipped to BMW’s processing plants in Germany where carbon fiber would be shaped into vehicle frames. BMW is adopting carbon frames for the i3 battery-electric car and the i8 hybrid sports car prior to their 2013 releases.

BMW joins Daimler and Audi in turning the German auto industry into a leader in carbon fiber use. Daimler is working with Japanese firm Toray to build a carbon fiber plant in Esslingen, Germany by fall 2012. This plant would focus initially on vehicle frames for the SL Roadster, a luxury vehicle priced from $102,600. Audi is consulting with Voith GmbH on converting existing facilities with carbon fiber machinery. Voith’s hardware would help Audi produce the R8 sports car and the RS3 compact car in greater quantities for European consumers.

The common bond among these automakers is SGL Carbon SE, which specializes in developing carbon fiber machinery. SGL Carbon SE is among a handful of firms worldwide that have conducted research into carbon fiber necessary to help automakers. BMW’s announcement encouraged major shareholder Susanne Klatten to invest heavily in SGL Carbon SE. Volkswagen and Daimler have invested in the firm recently with Volkswagen buying nearly 10% of available stock. Audi’s partner Voith has invested enough to become SGL’s third largest investor.

This rush into carbon fiber is occurring despite the incredible costs of the material at present. Carbon fiber costs nearly 20 times more per pound than steel. Automakers like BMW are concerned that eco-friendly drive systems will have little impact on fuel economy due to heavy steel frames and batteries. A carbon fiber frame is 50% lighter than a steel frame while reducing emissions during production. Lingering issues like longer production times and difficulties shaping carbon fiber will remain in the early stages of development. BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and other investors in carbon fiber should help improve production processes while creating greater demand for this lightweight material.

BMW Group began a trial run of the two-seat MINI E in the United States in June 2009. This one-year trial featured 450 drivers who were selected from thousands of applicants in New York City, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Criteria for a “Motoring Pioneer” included a garage with adequate charging equipment, willingness to pay $850 a month for an entire year and maintaining a driving journal. These journals were used by the Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center at University of California-Davis to determine driver satisfaction. A forthcoming report includes details from the journals as well as interviews with MINI E drivers about their experiences during the trial.

Participants in the MINI E trial recognized performance, range and cargo limitations from the start. The UC-Davis study found that 35% of participants experienced reduced range and sluggish driving in cold weather. BMW’s claim that the MINI E could achieve 156 miles per charge was offset by average ranges of 100 miles per charge during the trial. Drivers had to adjust their commuting behaviors based on the MINI E’s features including multiple trips per day due to limited cargo space.

UC-Davis researchers found that a majority of drivers were happy with their MINI E experiences. The study measured positive reactions (98% affirmative) to BMW’s regenerative braking system. “Motoring Pioneers” became interested in electric vehicles as well as sustainable production of electricity. This interest manifested with the adoption of solar panels and reduced electrical use by a small minority of participants. The Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center also determined that 60% of MINI E drivers agreed strongly that electric vehicles could become their primary vehicles.

The compilation of journals and interviews from the MINI E trial must inform how automakers proceed with electric vehicles in the next generation. The Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center paved the way for further research into the interaction between consumers and green vehicles. BMW Group is likely keen to see the center’s report in full as similar trials in Germany and England progress. The automaker is working with Vattenfall, E.ON and the German federal government to facilitate trials in Berlin and Munich. This trial model will be replicated in England before the MINI E takes the next step toward the global market. The results of the American trial show that EV technology must be accompanied by recalibration of driving behaviors to create sustainable transportation networks.

The development of industry standards for plug-in vehicle charging has taken a step forward with the development of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. This organization was established in March 2000 to develop home charging systems that provide Internet and smart energy access through broadband power lines. These lines would allow homeowners and businesses to eliminate redundant lines that add to construction costs while simplifying grid maintenance. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance features more than 65 participants including General Electric, Cisco and Duke Energy. Germany’s five leading automakers joined the mix during a press conference last week.

Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen created the Coordination Office Charging Interface as a unified front for this partnership. German automakers are focused on the HomePlug GP specification that allows plug-in chargers, home electronics and climate control systems to work simultaneously on broadband lines. This layout is built using HomePlug’s AV and IEEE 1901 technologies tested for maximum safety. HomePlug Powerline Alliance works with partner manufacturers to create appliances, electronic hardware and charging units compatible with HomePlug GP. The Coordination Office Charging Interface will no doubt develop educational tools that create a vision of a “smart home” involving plug-in cars developed by German automakers.

Collaboration between HomePlug and German automakers fits into Germany’s commitment to electric vehicle adoption. The German federal government noted recently that only 2,500 electric vehicles were registered in the nation by December 2010. This figure would balloon to one million EVs by 2020 based on a federal initiative involving domestic automakers. German legislators doubled incentives for EV development and adoption in recent initiatives. As financial boosts to the nascent EV market are increased, German automakers and utilities want to reduce barriers to daily use for the typical consumer.

The HomePlug GP specification would reduce concerns about the mechanics of charging plug-in vehicles. Skeptics have stated that adding millions of plug-in vehicles worldwide would strain overtaxed electrical grids. These naysayers would also contend that increased energy consumption from computers, televisions and other electronics would increase emissions at power plants that offset the benefits of EVs. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance streamlines power consumption in the typical home by combining connectivity and power transmission along the same lines. This streamlined system reduces wasted energy and expensive remodeling projects that are problematic for residential and commercial property owners. The commitment of German automakers to HomePlug means that the primary barriers to plug-in adoption remain cost and supply.

BMW and Chinese automaker Brilliance Automotive announced plans to produce a plug-in hybrid sedan for Chinese consumers by 2013. This hybrid vehicle would be produced at the Brilliance plant in Shenyang using BMW components and expertise. The concept version presented recently by BMW and Brilliance builds off the frame of the BMW 5 Series sedan. BMW hopes that its partnership with Brilliance Automotive expands the German automaker’s portfolio in the growing Chinese auto market.

This plug-in hybrid sedan uses a parallel hybrid system to achieve an overall range of 249 miles. The drive system combines a 160kW TwinPower engine from BMW with a 70kW electric motor. BMW and Brilliance also added a battery pack in the trunk capable of plug-in recharging. Early estimates by BMW include a projected 47-mile range at up to 37 miles per hour using only electric power. Researchers at Brilliance Automotive are responsible for battery design as well as electrical components that connect the engine, motor and battery.

BMW announced plans for an aggressive research, development and marketing plan during last year’s Auto China 2010 in Beijing. The earliest version of the recently announced plug-in hybrid emerged during a recent partnership with Tongji University. This project started with the BMW 5 Series sedan as a blank slate that could be converted into an all-electric vehicle. BMW also announced last year that the MINI E trial currently taking place in the U.S. and Europe would expand to China this year. Partners like the China Automotive Technology and Research Corporation and the State Grid Corporation are utilizing MINI E test vehicles during daily routes. These forays into the Chinese market by BMW not only build partnerships for the future but yield data that inform improvements in vehicle design.

The latest developments by BMW and Brilliance Automotive add a new layer to China’s evolving green vehicle market. Chinese automakers like Kandi Technology and BYD Auto have been working within the strictures of the national government to encourage green vehicle ownership. The Chinese government has provided ample funding for research and development though economic struggles have slowed adoption of advanced vehicles. BMW and other outside automakers could provide competition in the Chinese market that would bring prices down. Another benefit to the Chinese economy would be additional jobs that could turn workers into green vehicle consumers. These incentives rely largely on the Chinese government loosening market regulations while keeping car taxes low.