Efficiency is the name of the game in today's auto industry. Since the focus is on saving energy, it may be surprising to know that up to 30 percent of the energy wasted by an internal combustion engine flows through the exhaust. BMW has found a way to recover some of that lost energy.
Using a radioactive heat-collector, originally designed to power space satellites, BMW is able to save up to 5 percent more energy. If that savings sounds small, consider that the company's current key Efficient Dynamics technologies-auto stop-start and brake energy regeneration-recover only 3 percent.
The core element of the thermoelectric generator is the radioactive material that it uses to turn heat into electricity. By building an exhaust system around the generator, a car can effectively use the exhaust's wasted heat to generate energy to power in-car electronics or electric motors to aid in propulsion.
Implementing the technology in BMW's cars can reduce carbon emissions and save fuel. The bad news is that BMW is about 5 years away from putting this technology in its production vehicles. Although the company says when the thermoelectric generator does finally make into production, it will be used to increase efficiency across the entire BMW line.
Source: Autocar