Category: Green Technology

Bridgestone is taking steps toward a sustainable future for tires. The company recently announced its currently testing passenger car tires largely made from a wide range of recycled and renewable materials, and yes, that includes plants Bridgestone is growing that produce natural rubber. The global brand will be working with automakers throughout the year to test and further develop these eco-friendly tires.

Specifically, Bridgestone has 200 sets of these tires ready to go. Recycled items account for 37 percent of the materials used, with 38 percent being renewables. That’s 75 percent total, and Bridgestone is working towards a goal of upping that content to 90 percent.

Recycled materials include rubber, steel, varying degrees of carbon black, and plastic bottles, which are used in conjunction with natural rubber harvested from the guayule desert shrub to create synthetic rubber. The company is growing the material at an agricultural facility in Arizona. Plant-based oils and bio-based Silica from rice husk ash are among other renewables involved in the manufacturing process.

The tires were designed and engineered at Bridgestone’s tech center in Ohio and created at the company’s plant in South Carolina. Once the 75-percent threshold is finalized, 90 percent will be the next benchmark on the way to a goal of 100 percent renewable/sustainable tires by 2050.

“As we progress in our transformation to a sustainable solutions company, we are making incredible progress in the use of recycled and renewable materials to bring sustainable tire technology from the drawing board to the driveway,” said Paolo Ferrari, Bridgestone Americas president & CEO. “The production and deployment of a 75-percent recycled and renewable materials tire technology marks a significant milestone as we accelerate our progress toward using fully sustainable materials in our products by 2050.”

Bridgestone isn’t the only tire manufacturer looking to go green in the near future. In February, Continental announced a very similar plan to produce sustainable tires utilizing much of the same materials mentioned here, further stating that recycled items already accounted for 15 to 20 percent of current tires.

Toyota is kicking its electrification plans into higher gear as the new management policy announced today greatly revolves around EVs. No fewer than 10 models without a combustion engine will be launched until 2026, including a three-row SUV for the United States slated to arrive in 2025. In the meantime, Asia and emerging markets will get an electric pickup truck and a compact model before the end of 2023. What about hybrids, you ask?

Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima announced the engineers are working on the next generation of plug-in hybrids with a purely electric range of more than 124 miles (200 kilometers). The high-ranked Toyota official didn’t mention the test cycle, but regardless of whether it’s WLTP or EPA, the company’s new PHEVs will receive a major boost in terms of purely electric range.

For reference, the Prius Prime pictured here has a manufacturer-estimated electric range of 44 miles (nearly 71 kilometers) courtesy of a 13.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The zero-emission range has jumped by 76 percent compared to the previous-generation model. However, other PHEVs do it even better as the EPA has rated the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport at 51 miles (82 kilometers) without sipping any gasoline.

Toyota says its new-age PHEV will be repositioned as the “practical BEV” while the regular hybrids will be improved “with a focus on high quality and affordable prices.” At the same time, work is underway for next-gen battery-powered EVs coming from 2026 that will double the driving range compared to existing models.

As far as fuel cell technology is concerned, Toyota wants to start mass production of commercial FCEVs. In the long run, the goal is to cut worldwide average CO₂ emissions by 33 percent by the end of the decade and by more than 50 percent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels. Ultimately, the target is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Toyota organized a press conference to announce its updated EV strategy under the new management. Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima took the stage to reveal plans for 10 EVs launching until 2026. That year, Toyota projects it’ll be able to sell 1.5 million cars without a combustion engine. The Japanese automaker had expressed its reluctance toward embracing EVs with open arms but the new team calling the shots sees things differently.

A completely new family of EVs is scheduled to debut in 2026. Toyota says they’ll be “entirely different” than today’s zero-emission models. Not only that, the next-gen EVs will double the driving range by using batteries with “far greater efficiency.” These new models promise to “set hearts racing” thanks to the driving performance and new design language.

While Hiroki Nakajima was talking about the next generation of electric vehicles, the side profile of a mysterious vehicle appeared in the background. It had a Lexus badge on the C-pillar and looked like a swoopy liftback with angular styling and side cameras. As shown in the image above, Toyota’s luxury division did tease a bunch of EVs in late 2021, but this new car wasn’t one of them.

To bring its new wave of EVs to life, Toyota intends to create an “All in One Team” that will handle everything from development to production and commercialization. The Japanese automotive giant also talked about its new Arene operating system for next-gen EVs that will support over-the-air updates and allow owners to customize the “ride feel.” Hiroki Nakajima went on to mention these new models will be more fun to drive.

According to Yoichi Miyazaki, Executive Vice President, the revised EV product roadmap includes a three-row SUV coming in 2025 to the United States where it will be locally assembled with batteries from North Carolina. Meanwhile, China will get two EVs in 2024 while an expanded bZ lineup will be offered in developed countries. In Asia and other emerging markets, Toyota plans to introduce an electric pickup truck before the end of the year, along with a compact model.

When the 2025 Ram 1500 REV debuted in February 2023, the unveiling did not include many technical specs about the electric pickup. Now, the company is ready to get into the nitty-gritty about the truck, including its maximum range of 500 miles.

Ram confirms the 1500 REV produces 654 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. This is enough to reach 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. Plus, the truck can tow up to 14,000 pounds and has a payload as high as 2,700 pounds. The water-fording depth is up to 24 inches.

Specifically, the 1500 REV has two, 250-kilowatt electric drive modules  – one at each axle. They combine the motor, gearbox, and inverter into a unit. The one in front is able to disconnect and let the wheels spin freely to improve efficiency in certain situations. The piece at the back includes an electronic-locking rear differential.

The Ram 1500 REV is available with two batteries. The standard one has a capacity of 168 kilowatt-hours and provides an estimated range of 350 miles. An optional 229-kWh pack boosts the projected distance to 500 miles between charges. The company also teases an XR trim with what the truckmaker claims is a “class-shattering range.”

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The truck supports 800-volt DC fast charging at up to 350 kilowatts. That’s enough to recoup 110 miles of range in 10 minutes. The system supports vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-home, and vehicle-to-grid bi-directional charging. The onboard power hookup can provide up to 7.2 kilowatts, and the available plug in the frunk offers 3.6 kilowatts. An owner can use both simultaneously.

The truck rides on an active-leveling air suspension with adaptive dampers and a multi-link, independent rear suspension. Drivers can select five suspension modes: Entry/Exit, Aero, Normal, Off-Road 1, and Off-Road 2. Ram isn’t explaining the differences between the settings at this time. The available tires include 22-inch diameter 275/50 Pirelli Scorpion all-season rubber.

Ram also announces that the electric truck is available with a power-opening frunk. There are 15 cubic feet of storage space in there. At the other end, the RamBox is available. It’s a locking storage area with a 115-volt outlet inside and space for gear.

Inside, the Ram REV is available with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an up to 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch passenger display. The standard info screen is 12.0 inches. Other available tech amenities include a digital rearview mirror and a 10.0-inch head-up display. Regen buttons allow for selecting a normal or one-pedal mode.

The 1500 REV is available in five trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Limited, and the range-topping Tungsten with features like a 23-speaker Klipsch stereo, power tailgate, Indigo/Sea Salt interior upholstery, suede headliner, and metal trim in the cabin. A hands-free driver-assist system will be an option.

For more Ram 1500 REV discussion, check out this episode of Rambling About Cars: 

The eighth-generation BMW 5 Series (G60) will premiere in the coming months, complete with a first-ever i5. Bavaria’s answer to the Mercedes EQE has been officially confirmed to spawn an M Performance version and it’s widely believed to get the i5 M60 suffix. The Munich-based automaker has already announced an i5 Touring is slated for a 2024 release, and in the meantime, our car paparazzi have spoted the electric wagon testing in northern Europe.

Judging by the large front brake and red calipers at both axles, we might be looking at the hotter i5 M60. At the very least, it has the M Sport Package because we can see the M badge hiding behind camo on the front fenders. The “world’s most powerful letter” also adorns the two-tone wheels wrapped in winter tires. Upon closer inspection, we’re noticing one of the prototypes has the sporty-looking side mirrors that used to be reserved for full-fat M models before trickling down to M Performance cars in recent years.

If you’re wondering why the overhangs are so long for an EV, it’s because the i5 shares the same CLAR platform with the combustion-engined 5 Series. Even though the prototype is heavily camouflaged, it’s easy to see BMW has played it safe with the design of its next 5 Series Touring. Codenamed G61, the posh wagon sends a bit of an E60 vibe at the front where the headlights are a one-piece cluster and flank a normal kidney grille. 

These test vehicles had the full production body with flush door handles and wide taillights. Here’s hoping the German automaker will retain the separate tailgate glass opening for extra practicality. Typical for a wagon, it has a generous greenhouse for excellent outward visibility. Those “Electrified Vehicle” stickers and the closed-off grille confirm we’re dealing with an EV.

In some of the images, we can take a peek inside the cabin and check out the upper side of the revamped dashboard. The 2024 5 Series will be the first BMW to use the iDrive 8.5 infotainment system, featuring side-by-side screens as on nearly all existing models but with the latest software. Expect the center console to have few conventional buttons as access to most functions – including those for the HVAC – will be moved to the touchscreen. In the 2 Series Coupe and larger models, there’s a 14.9-inch center display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The next-gen 5 Series Touring will not only get the i5 electric treatment but will also mark the return of the M5 Touring. Codenamed G99 (M5 Sedan is G90), the speedy estate is due around 2025 and is possibly coming to United States where the smaller M3 Touring is not available.

The gas-guzzling Mercedes G-Class will lose its thirsty combustion engines for a purely electric EQG scheduled to go on sale in 2024. In the meantime, there’s still a lot of testing that needs to be done to perfect the silent off-roader with its quad-motor setup. A new video shot by popular YouTuber JerryRigEverything shows the EQG at the G-Class Experience Center in Graz, Austria where the ICE-powered off-roader has been in production since 1979.

Although it’s only an early prototype, we can see the EQG flexing its go-anywhere muscles by climbing stairs and rocks without breaking a sweat. It also performs a tank turn (aka G Turn) by doing donuts on the spot. It even goes up a steep slope in reverse to highlight the advantages of an electric motor’s instant response. The EQG will be the second Mercedes electric model to have four e-motors, after the short-lived AMG SLS Electric Drive.

The walkaround video shows a familiar boxy shape but with subtle changes such as the air curtains in the rear wheel arches for better aerodynamic efficiency. Since there’s no combustion engine under the hood that would require cooling, it has a faux grille in the same vein as other EQ-branded models. Fitting the battery pack has created a flat underbody for smoother airflow.

Mercedes went through the trouble of camouflaging the dashboard, which tells us the EQG will have some changes compared to the venerable G-Class. However, spy shots from mid-January have revealed the purely electric model won’t stray away too far from the gasoline/diesel G. The YouTuber does say the digital instrument cluster is “far more useful” than the one inside the Rivian R1S and “far more realistic” than on the Hummer EV SUV.

The three-pointed star remains tight-lipped about the technical specifications, but the video host says even a single electric motor would be powerful enough to propel the EQG. That’s impressive considering the vehicle is estimated to weigh 6,600 pounds (3,000 kilograms). For reference, the AMG G63 with its brawny V8 engine tips the scales at nearly 5,550 lbs (almost 2,500 kg).

We get to learn the EQG has the electric equivalent of a low-range mode as well as the ability to climb a hill without the driver having to press the accelerator pedal. It should be noted the electric G won’t spell the end for the gasoline- and diesel-fueled versions as those will stick around for a while. Inevitably, the ICE models will be dropped.

The next-generation, electric-only Porsche Macan has been spied yet again during cold-weather testing. This time around, our car paparazzi were able to take a peek inside a prototype’s largely exposed cabin to reveal a modernized dashboard compared to the gas model on sale today. It would appear the zero-emission crossover will take a page from Taycan’s book by adopting a similar dual-screen setup for the driver’s display and infotainment.

While the electric sports sedan has another touchscreen mounted lower on the center console, that’s not the case with the Macan EV. Instead, Porsche is installing a touch-sensitive panel with four traditional toggle switches to access the climate control settings. Compared to the gasoline-fueled crossover on sale today, the electric successor’s cabin has been decluttered as there are fewer soft keys. Despite the simplified dashboard, it’s nice to see there are still separate controls to quickly access often-used functions.

The glossy black panel on the passenger side of the dashboard leads us to believe the Macan EV prototype also had an optional third screen. Sitting between the driver’s display and the touchscreen is the gear selector while the steering wheel (with the drive mode selector) appears to be carried over from the Taycan. We can also see the interior door panel with silver and metallic accents along with plenty of buttons and nice stitching.

Look closer and you’ll notice the instrument cluster shows an 82-percent state of charge and only 145 miles (234 kilometers) of range left, which doesn’t seem hugely promising. However, that’s not relevant since we are dealing with a prototype after all. The battery used might not be a production-spec pack and/or the software that estimates the remaining range has not been finalized. We can also assume the test vehicle has gone through extreme tests, which have obviously taken their toll on efficiency.

Exterior shots show the familiar deceptive camouflage to make the Macan in EV flavor look almost the same as the ICE model. Porsche continues to put faux dual exhaust tips and an equally fake front grille while the real headlights and taillights are cleverly hiding behind stickers mimicking the current model’s lights. It also had some stickers slapped onto the C-pillar to conceal the real design. The prototype sat on 21-inch wheels with 255/45 front and 285/40 rear winter tires.

A sister model of the Audi Q6 E-Tron, the Porsche Macan EV will be out in 2024 on the PPE platform with a 100-kWh battery pack. The dual-motor version in top specification will produce as much as 603 horsepower (450 kilowatts) and more than 738 pound-feet (1,000 Newton-meters) of torque. The folks from Zuffenhausen have confirmed a 48:52 weight distribution, 800V setup, rear electronic locking differential, all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, and up to 22-inch wheels. 

The electrification of vehicles and eventual phase-out of fossil fuel propulsion have commenced globally. Many, if not all, car companies have pledged a full lineup of EVs within the decade, while some companies, such as Hyundai, have also been developing zero-emission products in the form of hydrogen-powered automobiles.

Meanwhile, other companies aren’t just about to give up on internal combustion engines (ICE) just yet and have started developing ways to save them through synthetic fuels, otherwise called e-fuels. They’re zero emissions as well, though widespread commercial use is still a goal at this point.

Hyundai isn’t one of those brands – or at least not yet. In a media round table with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) after the Seoul Mobility Show, we asked the executives if the development of synthetic fuel or cars that can use them as propulsion is already on the cards for HMC.

According to Woo Suk Kim, Head of Hyundai’s Asia Product Planning Team, HMC is currently on electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered cars. The company isn’t venturing into developing other types of fuels at this time.

Jin Cha, Vice President and Head of Hyundai’s Global PR Corporate Strategy & Planning Team, added, “With several employees under our belt, we’re not entirely sure of what each engineer is currently working on in terms of research, so that’s why we can’t rule out the possibility of Hyundai developing the use of synthetic fuel. However, at this time, there isn’t any commercialization of synthetic fuels from our end, but who knows about the future?”

In a recent development, the European Union has agreed on a compromise over a proposed ban on combustion-powered vehicles starting in 2035. The automakers can continue selling ICE vehicles, but they must run on e-fuel. The European Commission has agreed to create a new vehicle category for models that can only run on e-fuels. Vehicles running on e-fuels in Europe will require technology to prevent them from using gasoline or diesel.

E-fuels are carbon-neutral during combustion as the CO2 returns to the atmosphere. However, e-fuels are not yet available in large amounts. The compromise came after Germany and seven European countries pushed back against the original proposal.

It was all the way back in January 2021 when Renault signaled the return of its iconic 5 with a namesake concept previewing an all-electric supermini. Ahead of the production model’s debut next year, the French marque is finally ready to share some preliminary technical specifications. It will ride on the CMF-B EV platform and borrow up to 70 percent of parts from the CMF-B-based Clio hatch and Captur subcompact crossover.

Using existing hardware will help Renault cut production costs by 30 percent compared to the Zoe, which will not live to see a next generation. One major difference between the two small EVs will be represented by the number of battery modules as the upcoming model will have just four large modules arranged in a single layer whereas the Zoe uses 12 smaller modules.

Doing so will allow the engineers to shave off 15 kilograms (33 pounds). They’re also promising more energy density than the Zoe’s pack and increased underbody rigidity by better integrating the battery into the platform around it. The beefier floor will reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels.

We are happy to report Renault intends to give the new 5 a multi-link rear suspension, which is a rarity in the B-segment. Lest we forget Alpine has confirmed it will launch its own version of the reborn R5, and you can rest assured it will take full advantage of the independent rear suspension to make the electric hot hatch a hoot to drive on a twisty road. The battery will be mounted under the floor to lower the center of gravity, therefore making the car more agile.

The company with the diamond logo isn’t saying anything about power for the time being, only mentioning the R5 will use an electric motor with technology derived from the Megane E-Tech Electric. It’ll have a new internal architecture that will not only reduce the motor’s size but also its weight.

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Meanwhile, spy shots have revealed the R5 disguised as a test mule using the Clio’s body. Renault is testing nine vehicles in northern Europe but also in the Paris region and Normandy. Tucked away in 272 hectares of forest, the Renault site in Aubevoye spans 613 hectares and boasts 35 tracks covering 37 miles (60 kilometers), 42 test lines, two wind tunnels, and no fewer than 18 corrosion chambers.

A new teaser video seems to give us a glimpse at the BMW i5 M60 on the move in Northern Europe. It stars the Red Bull Driftbrothers, Elias and Johannes Hountondji, as they slide the electric sedan through the snow and ice.

Spy shots in 2022 showed that BMW was developing the i5 M60. It reportedly shares a variant of the powertrain with the iX M60 where it makes 535 horsepower and 749 pound-feet during normal motoring or a maximum of 610 hp and 811 lb-ft. The sedan’s figures might be different, though. The electric SUV gets to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds when using launch control. 

Judging by this video, the i5 M60 has no problem sliding, at least with a professional behind the wheel. We can’t rule out BMW offering the model with a drift mode. 

The design of the cars in this video doesn’t look much different than other i5 variants from spy shots. This one is still wearing a camouflage wrap, so we can’t yet draw any final conclusions about how the i5 M60 compares to the rest. There’s also a glimpse inside the cabin, but BMW covers things up in there to prevent the world from seeing the interior layout.

The i5 M60 would sit at the top of the range, but there would also be lesser grades. For example, a rumor suggests that the eDrive40 would be a rear-drive variant making 335 hp.

BMW just announced some minor details about the upcoming i5. The sedan debuts in October and the wagon joins the range in 2024. The models use an upgraded version of the brand’s fifth-generation eDrive tech. It doesn’t have a dedicated EV platform because that arrives in 2025 on the Neue Klasse architecture.

If the i5 M60 is too small for your needs, BMW allegedly intends to premiere the i7 M70 at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May. It would be the flagship model in the big sedan’s lineup, and the output could reportedly be over 600 hp. There are no battery capacity details available yet.