BMW is on its way to equip its cars with a thermoelectric generator that could provide nearly five percent fuel savings. About thirty percent of energy wasted by an internal combustion engine goes through the exhaust, the technique involves using this energy to heat up a thermoelectric generator. The radioactive material in the generator produces electricity when heated.
For now, BMW is looking at a 5% fuel savings, however, if the generator is able to capture most of the wasted heat, the number could go higher. Even the number achieved now gives better savings as compared to the popular stop-start and brake energy regeneration, that boosts efficiency by 3%. The automaker hopes to bring the technology in production in five years.
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