Well, for starters, in 2023 they could have been equipping their ICE vehicles with the smart glass that Continental Corp said in 2016 could reduce emissions by up to 4 grams/kilometer. Not a complete solution, but certainly a step in the right direction. Now this is interesting. And if BMW can do it, why can't M-B? Also, what part, if any, has SPD played in in BMW's emissions-reducing protocol?
"Speaking to Automobilwoche, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse has changed his tune regarding stricter EU emissions regulations set to come into play next year. He said he doesn't see any reason to change or delay the new regulations and that BMW is ready for them. In fact, the company already has committed to having both six- and eight-cylinder engines ready for the new Euro 7 requirements, so we might even see gas-powered M models such as the M4 into the next few years, with the M3 confirmed to have a hybrid six-cylinder alongside the new electric one.
"We have known the targets for 2025 since 2019. We have aligned our model policy accordingly and further increased the efficiency of the drivetrains," Zipse said...Zipse hasn't given any indication as to why his tone has changed, however. We wouldn't be surprised if he and BMW feel that they made the changes necessary, and any automakers that are caught out shouldn't be given slack or an advantage for not having invested to meet the requirements.
...Zipse hasn't flipped on all of his opinions regarding future emissions regulations. He's still quite opposed to the proposed European ban on internal combustion vehicles for 2035. He stated that "Technological openness is the key to Europe's competitiveness." In the past, he noted concerns about staying competitive in markets where electric and hydrogen infrastructure aren't developing quickly, as well as the importance of hybrids... He also expressed a desire to see more onus put on fossil fuel producers, particularly in producing renewable fuels and those with (as he put it) lower lifetime carbon emissions, such as ethanol blends and vegetable oil-based diesel." |
