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Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla's new wheels, BMW Smart Transport Robots

Tesla has added a new standard wheel option for the Model S. The electric carmaker updated its configurator to include the 19-inch "Slipstream" wheels, replacing the standard five-spoke wheels. The Slipstream wheels look somewhat similar to the larger Turbine wheels Tesla also offers in the Model S. Recent deliveries may have included the new wheels, and one Redditor said he was surprised to find them on his new Model S. Customers can still opt for the 21-inch Turbine wheels or the 19-inch Cyclone wheels for additional cost. Read more from Teslarati. A scam artist who pled guilty to fraud for selling credits for biodiesel he didn't produce has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Philip Rivkin will spend 121 months in prison with three years of supervised release, and is required to forfeit $51 million and pay $87 million in restitution. Rivkin pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of making a false statement under the Clean Air Act. "Today we take another big step toward upholding the integrity of an important program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes energy independence," says EPA Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles. She adds, "This sentence deters would-be violators and helps protect responsible companies that follow the rules." Read more from the US Department of Justice. BMW will launch its On-Street Parking Information service this year. By the end of 2016, the service will allow drivers in the US and Germany to find open parking spaces through their navigation system. It uses movement data of cars entering or leaving parking spaces to predict areas that are more likely to have vacant parking and direct drivers to those areas. Besides offering convenience, On-Street Parking Information could help save fuel that cars use while the driver searches for parking. BMW says trials in major cities have already delivered "reliable results." Read more at Green Car Congress. BMW is developing autonomous robots that move parts around its factories. The Smart Transport Robots can make their way to rolling parts containers and deliver them to where they need to be on the factory floor. The robots use radio transmitters and a digital map to navigate around the factory, but BMW plans to eventually upgrade to a more accurate 3D camera system. Powered by retired BMW i3 batteries, the robots have enough charge to last an eight-hour shift. According to BMW Vice President of Foreign Supply Dr.

Recharge Wrap-up: Hyundai and Kia rethinking diesel for US, BMW i partners with Soho House

Hyundai and Kia are once again considering bringing diesel vehicles to the US. "It's something that's a strong consideration for us at this point," says John Juriga of Hyundai/Kia America. Diesel would help the group meet future fuel economy standards. While the obstacles that previously kept the brands from bringing diesel to the US in the past still exist, Juriga says they see a "more direct path" to making diesel work for them. Hyundai and Kia are also considering introducing cylinder deactivation, plug-in hybrids and 9- and 10-speed transmissions to reach fuel economy targets. Read more at Wards Auto. BMW's i division is teaming up with Soho House as its official automotive partner. BMW will provide i3 EVs for the private club's members and guests to use. The two groups will also host events together focused on art, design and innovation, beginning with an art talk called, "The Naked Truth? Nudity, fashion, and the photographic image today." According to BMW's Steven Althaus, the two brands are a great match. "BMW i and Soho House share a common mindset: both brands strive for innovation, creativity as well as a special sense for aesthetic setting new design standards," Althaus says, "What I look forward to most about our partnership is our determination to create memorable and sophisticated experiences together." Read more in the press release below. Foodlogica aims to reduce the environmental impact of food transport in Amsterdam using solar powered electric trikes. The trikes deliver food to local businesses and restaurants, a job usually done by air-polluting diesel trucks. The electric trikes feature cargo boxes that can hold 47 cubic feet or about 660 pounds of food. The trikes are stored in a shipping container fitted with solar panels, which charges them when they're not in use. By delivering food using solar and human power, Foodlogica is helping taking pollution and traffic congestion out of the "last mile" of food transport in Amsterdam. Get hungry and read more at Treehugger. An organization called Ten9 wants to get 1 billion people using sustainable transportation by 2025. Ten9 is a coalition of organizations that are trying to get transportation to that "tipping point" through technology, policy and good ideas. Ten9 wants to get Tesla CEO Elon Musk on board, as well as other business and technology leaders and world leaders.

Tesla in talks with BMW about batteries, charging collaborations

With Toyota and Daimler no longer holding Tesla shares, the electric vehicle company might be looking for a new partner – possibly a Bavarian one. In a new interview with Germany's Der Spiegel, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that he has had talks with BMW execs about future collaboration. "We are talking about whether we can collaborate in battery technology or charging stations," Musk said in the interview, according to Reuters. However, a Tesla spokesperson has tempered things by saying no formal agreements are in place at the moment. In the same interview, Musk reportedly praised BMW's use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in its i sub-brand offerings, and said he would like to have a battery factory in Germany in the next five or six years. The possibility of technological cooperation between Tesla and BMW has been a hot topic this year. In June, Musk reportedly met with BMW execs, and the two companies were also rumored to have met with Nissan to discuss charging technology. When Daimler sold off its shares, there was talk of it opening the way for possible collaboration between the two automakers, as well.