BMW's Next Generation EfficientDynamics Being Developed with NASA

Progress is always a good thing Good Job BMW.

Great innovation :) recapturing some more of that lost heat energy.

So why would you need an 8 speed gearbox?

I'm assuming for economy gains. I'm looking forward to this actually. Let's hope BMW doesn't lose their sporty edge though.

Thinking on it more, I really like this development, it encourages putting in more powerful/larger engines for increased efficiency/power output.

car building turns into rocket science

8 speed gearbox : faster acceleration,the gearbox will live longer,better in economie

The idea of making heat into usable electricity is smart! Working with NASA for the thermal effects are ingenious move. 8-speed automatic is a plus. Wow, Efficient Dynamic is getting a upgrade! Brillent! I look forward to the actual production model with the application of these leading edge techs. : ) Go BMW Go!

why it had to be BMW the one to work with NASA? why GM didn't started a similar cooperation? what was doing Rick Wagoner... cause it's too late for them to develop now cars like VOLT... all was wasted... their money, taxpayer's money, future, everything... they've lost the start with these new technologies and they did it since their EV car was scraped...

great innovation, but 200kw sounds a bit optimistic... we'll see i guess

u got it wrong mate about 65-70% of chemical energy from fuel is lost as heat, (a diesel engine is around 35-40% efficient petrol 30%), so a 300KW car actually rejects around 600KW of energy as heat through the exhaust, and consideing exhaust gases travel at supersonic speeds through most of the exhaust, so it would be impossible capture all the heat from that exhaust gas, maybe another 30-40% of the heat can be tranfered to their TEG device and then u have to consider the efficency of that device (and also as u mentioned the car will rarely be at full pelt), so i hope u can see the reasoning behind my comment ;)