BMW mulls converting hybrids to electric only mode in polluted cities

BMW said it can force its hybrid cars switch to an electric-only mode in heavily polluted inner-city areas, helping its vehicles compete with pure battery-driven rivals as a raft of cities seek to create emissions-free zones.

“The car switches off the combustion engine automatically,” BMW’s board member for development, Klaus Froehlich, told Reuters at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Because of BMW vehicles’ connectivity and navigation systems, its cars can be converted to automatically disable engines, Froehlich said, adding that the new X5 sports utility vehicle has an operating range of 80 kilometers in electric-only mode.

BMW is currently demonstrating the technology to local authorities in German cities which may be forced to ban heavily polluting diesel cars as a way to meet European Union clean air rules.

A global clampdown on vehicle pollution in the wake of Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) 2015 diesel emissions cheating scandal has prompted cities including London, Paris and Stuttgart to consider bans of combustion engine vehicles.

But customers have shied away from buying electric cars because of a lack of charging infrastructure, making hybrids a more attractive option for now.

Such a vehicle could be very important in regions such as Europe, where most drivers do not own multiple cars for different uses, he said.

Germany’s highest administrative court in February ruled cities could ban diesel vehicles from some streets in order to improve air quality.

Comments

PTI workers' protest in Bani Gala over award of tickets continues on third day

Irate activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) continued to protest the distribution of party tickets outside chairman Imran Khan’s Banigala residence for third day (Wednesday). Dozens of workers from various constituencies have gathered outside Khan’s residence, demanding party tickets for their groups. Activists from Multan’s NA-154 constituency are demanding not to allot the ticket to Sikander Bosin. Workers from NA-51 FATA are also speaking against the award of tickets. The protesters have urged Khan to review the distribution of tickets to the candidates. They have asked to provide them to ideological workers instead of para-shooters. Earlier, the party delayed the announcement of candidates for remaining constituencies for 72 hours. A meeting of the party’s parliamentary board was also held on Tuesday. The members are scheduled to announce the new candidates after three days. The scrutiny process of candidates is also likely to continue for the next two days in the contro

How US Birthright Citizenship Emerged, Endured

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants to end a constitutional right that automatically grants citizenship to any baby born in the United States. Trump, in an interview with "Axios on HBO,'' said his goal is halting guaranteed citizenship for babies of noncitizens and unauthorized immigrants. U.S. citizenship through birth comes via the 14th Amendment , which was ratified after the Civil War to secure U.S. citizenship for newly freed black slaves. It later was used to guarantee citizenship to all babies born on U.S. soil after court challenges. Here is a look at the Citizenship Clause and how citizens worked to be included in it throughout U.S. history: The 14th Amendment In the aftermath of the Civil War, radical Republicans in Congress sought to push through a series of constitutional protections for newly emancipated black slaves. The 13th Amendment, which was ratified in December 1865, outlawed slavery. The 14th Amendment, ratified in July 1868, assured cit

Pakistan look to avoid whitewash in final ODI against Australia

Australia will look to end the five-match ODI series with a clean sweep whereas Pakistan will aim to salvage some pride when the two sides face off in the fifth and final fixture at Dubai today. After a thrashing in the first three matches, Pakistan showed some improvement in the fourth ODI on Friday but became the first team in ODI history to lose while chasing a target below 280 despite two centuries. Needing 278 to win, Pakistan were brought close to their target by debutant Abid Ali's 112 and Mohammad Rizwan's 104, but in the end the twin hundreds were in vain as they failed to score a required 17 off Marcus Stoinis' last over. Glenn Maxwell missed a second career hundred by just two runs, Usman Khawaja scored 62 and Alex Carey 55 as Australia posted 277-7 in their 50 overs. Abid Ali, only drafted into the side two hours before the start after Imam-ul-Haq went down with fever, became the 15th batsman to score a hundred on ODI debut. Salim Elahi (102 not out v Sri

Pakistan News Urdu Fast

Search This Blog