VW BLUEMOTION

VW BLUEMOTION VS SIEMENS ELECTRIC

In our modern world with its ever rising energy demand, environmental issues have become everyone's concern, and it's imperative that each and every one of us  do our bit for the environment, companies and corporations included.  With our limited fossil fuel and oil resources, alongside stricter environmental and climate protection regulations we need to rethink our driving habits to achieve greater future sustainability and energy efficiency.  Several large corporations across the globe are slowly becoming more environmentally aware through public pressure and their production of “greenovation”. Volkswagen South Africa is such a company yet there are still numerous other large corporations totally negligent, even unthinking, almost Eco oblivious, hard at the process that is destroying our planet day by day.

Volkswagen launched VW Polo BlueMotion and the “Think Blue” concept in 2005, which is their holistic approach to ecological sustainability and underpins their brand philosophy and their commitment to global environmental responsibility. Some time in  2012, Volkswagen announced its intention or rather its aspiration to become the leading car manufacturer in the world by 2018. By which time, they  intend to reduce energy and water consumption, waste, solvent emissions and CO2  emissions by 25% relative to its 2010 values. Volkswagen’s Uitenhage Plant is already hard at work to become a “Think Blue Factory”  since its new world-class press line consumes an astounding 30% less energy than conventional press lines. Currently Volkswagen's award winning Polo BlueMotion is the most successful environmentally friendly car label, using the most fuel efficient BlueMotion  technologies which has subsequently been extended to Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion, Volkswagen CC BlueMotion, Tiguan  BlueMotion, New Touareg BlueMotion.

VW Polo BlueMotion 1.2L Stop-start technology - 4.4 Litres/100km

Electric vehicles 

BlueMotion technology is really great and suffices as eco-tech for today's car  however, will Volkswagen really  become the leading car manufacturer in the world by 2018 in the presence of Electric vehicles  which can be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources of energy.  German Electronics Company Siemens showcased its "eChopper" electric bike and eRuf roadster at the COP17 in Durban late in 2011. Siemens is not a car manufacturer but with many years of experience in energy, mobility, and IT, is
perfectly positioned to pioneer a new era of sustainable transport.

Way back in 1881, German Electronics Company Siemens  rolled out  the world’s first electric tram in Berlin and by 1905, Siemens built the first “Elektrische Viktoria” (“Electric Victoria”), an  electric car used as elegant hotel taxis or delivery vehicles in Berlin. By the 20th century, Siemens became the leading supplier of electric drives for railways. Today Siemens uses its extensive expertise in energy, mobility, and IT to refine the technology for electric cars and large-scale fleet trials.  Since April 2013, approximately 100 Siemens employees has been test driving electric cars for everyday use and assist to optimize the interaction between the electrics cars and the electricity grid. Just five years ago, this seemed to be a vision for the distant future.

Porsche eRuf Roadster courtesty Siemens

Quiet electric cars  with  zero-emissions are especially ideal for cities and are currently the only means of transport that also enables a clean solution for individual mobility. Electric cars, electric bicycles, and electric scooters are already gaining in popularity for local usage and if  electric cars are to make a real breakthrough, the  automotive and electrical industries need to form joint ventures to setup the necessary infrastructure like charging stations, for electromobility.  Is there a future for Bluemotion technology  if  German car manufacturer Volkswagen  and German Electronics giant Siemens decide to produce our electric VW's of the future? VW has the  e-Co-Motion electric van and the XL1 hybrid. Siemens is currently one of the top automobile electronic module manufacturers. The first images below is VW's  electric concept car and the second is VW's first electric production car called  the  e-Up capable of 150 km per charge.

Volkswagen's single-seater electric concept car called the Nils.

VW's first first eGolf