AsianScientist (Jul. 6, 2015) – BMW Group and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have launched a new electromobility research program, involving the all-electric BMW i3 and plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 that runs on electricity and petrol.
This new research program will be conducted at the Future Mobility Research Lab located on the NTU campus, which is the BMW Group’s first joint lab in Southeast Asia. Both parties will be injecting a combined S$1.3 million (~US$0.96 million) to drive the new research projects, on top of the initial S$5.5 million (~US$4 million) funding allocated to the joint lab in 2013.
The new research program will focus on two new areas, electromobility in Asia and also smart materials. This is in addition to the original three research topics that the joint lab is working on: advanced battery, driver enhancement and intelligent mobility.
At the launch ceremony today at NTU, the BMW Group announced that the BMW i3 and BMW i8 will be provided as research platforms to the Future Mobility Research Lab. The scientists at the joint lab will use the two BMW i vehicles to conduct research on real-life driver behavior and to collect in-depth data on vehicle performance. The two cars will also conduct on-road trials of new technologies such as a mobile application that can accurately predict traffic and estimated end-to-end travelling time.
Mr. Axel Pannes, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia said: “We are very satisfied with our partnership with NTU and the establishment of the Future Mobility Research Lab, thanks to the high level of competency from NTU’s research staff and interdisciplinary teams.”
Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU’s Chief of Staff and Vice President (Research), said the new research program will build on the research successes of the NTU-BMW joint lab.
“NTU is one of the eight top universities across the globe that BMW has established a strategic partnership with. The BMW i3 and i8 will be used by BMW and NTU scientists to develop and test innovative technologies in real-life conditions and this new research program extends NTU’s efforts in developing future mobility solutions with global impact,” said Lam.
Mr. Volker Bouffier, Prime Minister of the Federal State of Hesse and President of the German Bundesrat, said, “The new electromobility research program launched by NTU and BMW emphasizes the strong and fruitful bilateral relations between Germany and Singapore in the fields of research. To study and develop key areas which relate to future transportation will be a crucial factor on our way to a modern globalized world based on sustainable development.”
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Source: NTU.
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