BMW. The Ultimate Hourly Driving Machine

BMW has announced that it will start renting its entire model line up, including M series cars, by the hour from its BMW Welt location in Munich. This is seminal, and entirely consistent with BMW’s mission of providing its customers mobility rather than delivering them an automotive product. Kudos to BMW. The story is here:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1697737/bmw-on-demand-zipcar-for-the-luxury-set

Politics for MacAullif are Simply Electric

Former Clinton fund-raiser and Hillary 2008 Chair has turned green, purchasing the Hong Kong based electric car manufacturer MyCar (photo below). When you think about it, a key component in successful EV ventures is entirely political, with significant funds – loans, tax credits, rebates, etc… – available from Federal and state governments to both manufacturers and consumers. And of course, significant funds are needed to bridge the gap between the cost of conventional vehicles and EVs in order to make these ventures viable.

Bloomberg story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-07/terry-mcauliffe-pursues-a-new-shade-of-green-with-mycar-project.html

Porsche: No Substitute for Horsepower

Porsched has launched its Cayenne hybrid based upon that SUV’s new platform. Before people get up and arms and analyze whether a 10 percent premium and almost 400 pound weight penalty is really a sustainable solution, consider that ultimately, it will reduce Porsche’s net fleet emissions, and that is the point. The German manufacturers – Mercedes, BMW and now Porsche – have focused not necessarily on an increase in MPG exclusively, but on retaining engine power through hybrid supplements. Thus, a hybrid six cylinder combined with a battery pack will provide the power of an eight cylinder. In a world where a certain slice of the market will always seek traditional performance, it is a testament to how government incentives (CAFE) are necessary to push manufacturers to develop sustainable technology.

Cayenne hybrid story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-07/hybrid-porsche-introduces-highway-sailing-for-68-000-jason-h-harper.html