Munich/Parsdorf. With the publication of its Environmental Impact Statement 2024, all BMW Group operations in Parsdorf are now part of the European environmental register, EMAS. In addition to the BMW Group Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) and test-parts logistics, the pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf has been included in the environmental impact statement and EMAS registration for the first time. EMAS stands for the “Eco-Management and Audit Scheme”, which claims to be the most stringent environmental management system in the world. “We are very pleased with the EMAS registration of all our operations in Parsdorf, which underlines that our processes operate at a very high level – both economically and environmentally,” says Hansjörg Schilp, director of the CMCC and pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf. “The entire team has done an outstanding job.”

EMAS: Strict requirements and high environmental standards

To be listed in the EMAS Register, companies must fulfil strict requirements and adhere to rigorous environmental standards. EMAS is a globally recognised framework that enables organisations to manage and continuously improve their environmental impact. A key element of the EMAS environmental management system is the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. EMAS also focuses on measurable improvements, transparency and legal certainty. Auditing aims to support companies in continuously improving their environmental performance – for example, by using energy and material more efficiently and reducing emissions, wastewater and waste from their sites. Beyond these direct environmental impacts, EMAS also addresses and evaluates indirect aspects, including the sustainability of products, procurement and supply chains, contractor practices and the environmental impact of employees commuting to work. (Source: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wirtschaft-konsum/wirtschaft-umwelt/umwelt-energiemanagement/emas-umweltmanagement-guetesiegel-der-europaeischen#systematisches-umweltmanagement-mit-emas)

Efficient operations and concepts for the circular economy

The validated environmental impact statement and the resulting inclusion in the EMAS Register by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria underscore the rigorous environmental standards upheld by the BMW Group in Parsdorf. Battery cell production at the CMCC, one of the three Parsdorf facilities, is powered entirely by electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. Hot water for process ventilation is generated using waste heat recovered from various primary processes, and all three Parsdorf facilities utilise heat pumps in their operations. “On our pilot lines for battery cells and high-voltage batteries, we are focusing on reducing the use of critical raw materials and energy, avoiding solvents and developing innovative circular economy approaches,” explains Schilp. Raw materials represent a significant cost factor for battery cells and high-voltage batteries. Efficient and responsible use of these resources is therefore necessary and also makes economic sense. The BMW Group is gaining valuable insights in this area in Parsdorf. Residual materials from the production process are collected and, wherever technically feasible, reintegrated into the value-creation cycle at the BMW Group’s Competence Centres through direct recycling. This innovative procedure enables residual materials from battery cell production, as well as whole battery cells, to be mechanically dismantled into their components.

Transparent reporting: Environmental impact statement now online

The environmental impact statement for the BMW Group’s Parsdorf  operations (CMCC, pilot plant for high-voltage batteries and test-parts logistics) has been independently reviewed by TÜV SÜD Umweltgutachter GmbH and is now available online at: www.bmwgroup-werke.com/produktionskompetenz/de.html

How the cell is created: Production steps for sample manufacturing at the CMCC

Cell manufacturing at the CMCC in Parsdorf begins with electrode production: Here, the base material, comprising, for example, graphite for the anode and nickel oxides for the cathode, with binders and solvents, is metered and mixed in a precisely measured ratio. This creates the so-called “slurry” – which means wafer-thin metal foils are coated and then compressed after drying. In technical jargon, this is referred to as “calendering”. The highest level of precision is required: The foil is just a few micrometres thick – in other words, thinner than the threads of a spider web – while the coating is in the micrometre range. During cell assembly, the coated foils, referred to in the jargon as calendered electrodes, are coiled into so-called “jelly rolls” using the separator and inserted into the cell housing. The cells are filled with electrolyte, then charged for the first time and finally checked for functionality and quality.

Parsdorf pioneers: How the BMW Group builds Gen6 high-voltage batteries

Parsdorf is also home to the BMW Group’s largest pilot plant for Gen6 high-voltage batteries, where production processes are developed and tested before large-scale production begins at the series plants in Debrecen (Hungary), Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria), Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and Woodruff (USA). More than 350 employees have been building initial high-voltage battery prototypes here since 2023. In the meantime, these batteries have also been delivered to the vehicle plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where they were installed in test vehicles for the Neue Klasse. For series production, the BMW Group sources battery cells for its high-voltage batteries from leading cell manufacturers, who produce the cells to the company's specifications. The highest technical standards apply. Upon receipt of goods, additional measurements – such as voltage checks – are carried out. Next comes cell clustering, where the battery cells are connected to coolers. This step ensures optimal insulation and cooling of the cells. The cell clusters and cell contact system are then laser-cleaned and welded with pinpoint precision. The in-line inspection continuously monitors each weld seam in real time. An innovative foaming process follows, ensuring that all elements are protected as a mechanical unit. The foam thus guarantees the safety, stability and durability of the high-voltage battery. The housing is then closed, sealed and riveted. In the final assembly step, the Energy Master – the central control unit – is installed onto the high-voltage battery. A permanently elastic sealing adhesive is applied to ensure a reliable seal. Finally, each high-voltage battery undergoes a 100% end-of-line inspection to ensure quality, safety and function.

Triomphe pour BMW à l’occasion de la 31^ème édition de l’Auto Vum Joer (Voiture de l’année) organisée par le quotidien luxembourgeois « Luxemburger Wort » qui remporte le prix le plus prestigieux du concours avec la sportive BMW M3 Touring ; élue voiture de l’année 2024.

Organisé par le quotidien luxembourgeois “Luxemburger Wort”, le concours « Auto vum Joer » permet aux lecteurs et internautes de se prononcer sur les voitures qu'ils ont préférées au cours de l'année écoulée, le tout répartis en 10 catégories distinctes. C’est au cours d’une soirée de gala organisée ce 13 mars à Hesperange que les lauréats ont été annoncés devant la communauté des importateurs et distributeurs automobiles du Luxembourg.

« Ce résultat impressionnant témoigne de la passion et de la fidélité sans faille des Luxembourgeois pour la marque BMW et MINI. Nous sommes fiers de ces multiples victoires que nous devons au travail exemplaire de nos concessionnaires et partenaires luxembourgeois. Villmols Merci !, affirme Alexander Wehr, CEO du BMW Group Belux.

BMW et MINI ont remporté les prix suivants :

BMW M3 Touring – “Auto Vum Joer - Voiture de l’Année”

BMW M3 Touring – 1er prix dans la catégorie “Performance Car”

BMW i5 – 1er prix dans la catégorie “Executive Car”

BMW iX2 – 2ème prix dans la catégorie Electric Family SUV & Crossover

MINI Cooper Electric – premier prix dans la catégorie Compact Car

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Le groupe BMW

Avec ses quatre marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, BMW Group est le premier constructeur mondial d'automobiles et de motos haut de gamme et propose également des services financiers et de mobilité de premier ordre. Le réseau de production de BMW Group comprend plus de 30 sites de production dans le monde entier ; l'entreprise dispose d'un réseau de vente mondial dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2022, BMW Group a vendu près de 2,4 millions de véhicules et plus de 202 000 motos dans le monde entier. Le bénéfice avant impôt de l'exercice 2022 s'élève à 23,5 milliards d'euros pour un chiffre d'affaires de 142,6 milliards d'euros. Au 31 décembre 2022, BMW Group employait 149 475 personnes.

Le succès de BMW Group a toujours été basé sur une réflexion à long terme et une action responsable. L'entreprise a fixé très tôt le cap pour l'avenir et place systématiquement la durabilité et la gestion efficace des ressources au cœur de son orientation stratégique, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup  

Twitter : http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Contact:

BMW Group Belux

Jeroen Lissens
GSM: +32 488 23 55 85
Tel.: +32 3 890 97 08
E-mail: jeroen.lissens@bmw.be

+++ La surface de la carrosserie qui change de couleur grâce à la technologie électrophorétique figure sur la liste des meilleures inventions du magazine TIME en 2022. Communiqué ci-dessous en anglais +++

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Munich. Today, TIME reveals its annual list of the Best Inventions, which features 200 extraordinary innovations. To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as the electric vehicle industry, green energy, and the metaverse. TIME then evaluated each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

Of the new list, TIME’s editors write: “The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions)—including life-mapping artificial intelligence, diamonds made from excess carbon in the air, and the most powerful telescope ever—that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”

The full list is available here: time.com/best-inventions-2022

Colour change at the touch of a button.

The BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink is a unique vehicle capable of changing its entire body colour at the touch of a button and was first revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas.  By making it possible to alter the body colour and display different patterns, the BMW iX Flow opens up a whole new way of personalising the driving experience.

A variable exterior colour can also contribute to wellness in the interior and to the efficiency of the vehicle. This is done by taking account of the different abilities of light and dark colours when it comes to reflecting sunlight and the associated absorption of thermal energy. A white surface reflects a lot more sunlight than a black one. By implication, heating of the vehicle and passenger compartment as a result of strong sunlight and high outside temperatures can be reduced by changing the exterior to a light colour. In cooler weather, a dark outer skin will help the vehicle to absorb noticeably more warmth from the sun.

In both cases, selective colour changes can help to cut the amount of cooling and heating required from the vehicle's air conditioning. This reduces the amount of energy the vehicle electrical system needs and with it also the vehicle's fuel or electricity consumption. In an all-electric car, changing the colour in line with the weather can therefore also help to increase the range. In the interior, the technology could, for example, prevent the dashboard from heating up too much.

E Ink technology itself is extremely energy efficient. Unlike displays or projectors, the electrophoretic technology needs absolutely no energy to keep the chosen colour state constant. Current only flows during the short colour changing phase.

Millions of paint capsules in a custom wrap.

Electrophoretic colouring is based on a technology developed by E Ink that is most well-known from the displays used in eReaders. The surface coating of the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink contains many millions of microcapsules, with a diameter equivalent to the thickness of a human hair. Each of these microcapsules contains negatively charged white pigments and positively charged black pigments. Depending on the chosen setting, stimulation by means of an electrical field causes either the white or the black pigments to collect at the surface of the microcapsule, giving the car body the desired shade.

Munich/Stuttgart. BMW a encore amélioré le nombre de ses succès à l’ »International Engine of the Year » en enregistrant deux victoires de classe supplémentaires. Les derniers lauriers acquis par le Groupe dans cette compétition reconnue l’ont été grâce à deux moteurs apportant des performances à caractère sportif dans un style particulièrement efficace à des véhicules actuels des gammes BMW et MINI. Dans la continuité de l’an dernier, le moteur 2,0 litres quatre cylindres avec technologie BMW TwinPower Turbo équipant les BMW Série 1, BMW Série 3 et BMW Série 5 termine à la première place de sa catégorie. Le moteur 1,6 litre quatre cylindres MINI TwinPower Turbo de la MINI Cooper S a été récompensé pour la troisième fois consécutive. Les trophées de l’ »International Engine of the Year » ont été attribué le 5 juin au salon du moteur à Stuttgart. Veuillez trouver en annexe le communiqué complet en anglais.