BMW 2008 Annual Report Download - page 35

36
14 Group Management Report
14 A Review of the Financial Year
16 General Economic Environment
20 Review of Operations
42 BMW Stock and Bonds
45 Disclosures pursuant to § 289 (4)
and § 315 (4) HGB
47 Financial Analysis
47 Internal Management System
49 Earnings Performance
51 Financial Position
52 Net Assets Position
55 Subsequent Events Report
55 Value Added Statement
57 Key Performance Figures
58 Comments on BMW AG
62 Risk Management
68 Outlook
novative drive unit sets new standards for fuel consump-
tion and emission reduction. It also complies with the par-
ticularly stringent emission limits valid in California and
other US federal states. BMW AdvancedDiesel is being
offered as a so-called -state model (BIN5) throughout
the USA. The introduction of BMW AdvancedDiesel
represents another important aspect of the Efficient
Dynamics strategy designed to reduce fuel consumption
worldwide.
BMW ActiveHybrid – the next step towards
greater fuel economy
The use of hybrid technology is enabling the BMW Group
to realise potential efficiency improvements. The BMW
Group is developing a comprehensive hybrid modular
system in order to provide the optimal solution for each
model – the Best of Hybrid. The BMW Concept 7 Series
ActiveHybrid combines a highly efficient V8 twin turbo
petrol engine and an electric drive based on the “Mild
Hybrid” concept. The electric drive supports the combus-
tion engine in clearly defined driving situations, thus opti-
mising the propulsion unit. A newly developed lithium-ion
battery serves as the energy storage unit.
By contrast, the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid com-
bines an eight-cylinder petrol engine and the electric drive
with the help of an innovative two-mode active gearbox.
Unlike hybrid models that are currently available, BMW
ActiveHybrid technology will deliver efficiency benefits
not only in city traffic, but also out on the open road. Fuel
savings of up to   are possible in comparison to cars
powered by conventional combustion engines. The hybrid
models of the BMW X6 and the BMW 7 Series will be
ready for series production in .
Innovative concepts for tomorrow’s mobility
The BMW Group continues to work on solutions for sus-
tainable mobility. A separate organisational unit (known
as “project i”) has been set up as part of the Number ONE
strategy to develop new mobility concepts, especially for
densely populated areas. The first results of its work – the
MINI E electric vehicle – were presented at the Los Angeles
Auto Show in November . In a pilot project, approxi-
mately  all-electric MINI E cars are being tested by
selected private and corporate customers in everyday use
in the US federal states of California, New York and New
Jersey. The MINI E is equipped with a  kW ( hp)
electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. The car
is
capable of covering distances of up to  kilometres
( miles). The objective of the pilot project is to gain an
understanding of how individual mobility can be organised
on the basis of an all-electric vehicle. The findings made
and the response of customers will be incorporated into
the further development of electric vehicles.
Driving in the long-term with hydrogen
In the long term, the BMW Group is committed to the use
of renewably produced hydrogen for sustainable automo-
bility and continues to pursue its vision of driving without
causing CO emissions. With the BMW Hydrogen 7, the
pioneering use of hydrogen as a source of energy for indi-
vidual mobility is already becoming today’s reality. The
hydrogen-driven vehicle is powered by a twelve-cylinder
engine which generates  kW ( hp). The dual-fuel
design allows either hydrogen or petrol to be used in the
engine’s combustion chambers. The switch from one
operating mode to the other can be made at any time at
the push of a button. The world’s first hydrogen-powered
luxury sedan for day-to-day use has been produced in a
small series of  vehicles and made available to a se-
lected group of people from politics, business and other
areas of society for daily use. By the end of , the BMW
Hydrogen 7 had covered more than . million kilometres
across Europe, the USA and other regions of the world.
The intensive use of the hydrogen sedan in real-life con-
ditions proves that this drive concept is suitable for the
challenges of everyday driving and is a real sustainable
option for the future.