Kia Motors Corp. signed an agreement with Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone which manages the communications needs of its largest multinational customers, to explore business opportunities in telematics services in Europe.

Under the agreement, Kia will focus on creating new business opportunities based on automotive IT systems and Vodafone’s existing communications network in Europe. As well as collaborating on the development of new telematics services, Kia will develop new automotive IT solutions by using the telematics infrastructure to build a new customer-oriented telematics business models.

Kia is introducing its in-car communications and entertainment system, UVO powered by Microsoft, to selected models in the North American market from this year.

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) has completed the first of its new generation utility-scale PowerBuoy device, the PB150. (Earlier post.) The PB150 PowerBuoy, with a peak-rated output of 150 kW, is the largest and most powerful wave power device designed by OPT to date, and is designed for use in arrays for grid-connected power generation projects.

The PowerBuoy 150. Click to enlarge.

The OPT PowerBuoys are point absorbers, with a linear generator for a power take-off system. The PB150 is 135 feet in length, and has a maximum diameter of 36 feet near the ocean surface.

The PowerBuoy 150 is currently being prepared for ocean trials at a site approximately 33 nautical miles from Invergordon, off Scotland’s northeast coast. The sea trials are expected to commence as soon as weather conditions permit. The Company is seeking additional financing for the commercial utilization of the buoy after the trial phase is completed including its possible deployment at various potential sites. A second PB150 is already under construction in the US for a proposed utility-scale project in Oregon, and the Company is involved in other planned projects in Australia, Japan and Europe that may utilize the PB150.

OPT’s PowerBuoy has a low visual profile, as most of the structure is submerged, and is designed to have a minimal environmental impact. The Company has experience with in-ocean performance of its PowerBuoys, including its PB40 system which has been operating off Oahu, Hawaii, since December 2009 and has subsequently been connected to the grid. That system was developed under a multi-year project for the US Navy and the PowerBuoy underwent an independent environmental assessment. This resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Last year, OPT signed an agreement with 11 US federal and state agencies and three non-governmental stakeholders for the phased development of a 1.5 megawatt wave power project at Reedsport, Oregon.

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën plan to invest €100 million (US8 million) in their intended joint venture on hybrid technology named “BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification”. (Earlier post.)

The new company will operate out of two locations: the greater Munich area, Germany and Mulhouse, France. 400 employees are expected to work for the joint venture by the end of 2011. Subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities, the new company is expected to launch its operations in the second quarter of 2011. The new hybrid components will equip both partners’ vehicles from 2014 onwards.

The initiative between the two companies is aimed at developing and producing standard hybrid components for the electrification of their respective vehicle ranges. It will focus on components such as battery packs, E-machines, generators, power electronics, chargers, and software for hybrid systems. This joint venture will enable both partners to create an open platform on these technologies and support the European industry to structure itself in the field of hybridization. To that end, the joint venture will be a full-fledged company and will both integrate suppliers by outsourcing development work as well as sell hybrid components to third parties.

As responsible carmakers, we aim to create an open European platform and foster the development of European standards for hybrid technologies. This joint venture will also enable us to develop advanced technological manufacturing expertise in Europe in the field of electric powertrains, and to retain all its potential for creating value.

—Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën

BMW Group and PSA share the same vision of the importance of hybridization in the future. The joint venture will enable us to act more strategically and with a single, shared approach. For us, joining forces also means significant economies of scale, shared development costs, using standardized components and a faster development process.

—Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

The greater Munich area is the designated location for all research and development while all production would take place in Mulhouse, France. The 400 employees expected to be on board by the end of the year will be based in Munich. Additional jobs in Mulhouse will be added in time for the start of production in 2014. When production has fully ramped up, the French facility will have about 250 employees.

The joint venture’s management, as well as its workforce, will be mostly drawn from employees of the two parent companies. Apart from this, plan is to fill 100 new positions with external candidates when the joint venture becomes operational later this year. Main job profiles needed are engineers specialized in electric mobility and electronics.

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have been cooperating for almost ten years. In 2002, both partners agreed to jointly design and produce 4-cylinder engines. Between 2006 and 2010, more than 1.8 million motors were built for a number of MINI, Peugeot and Citroën brand models. In February 2010, the two companies also agreed to develop the next generation of their jointly designed 4-cylinder gasoline engine, which will also meet EU 6 requirements.

In October 2010, BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to expand their existing cooperation to hybrid systems. On February 2, 2011, BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën announced that this cooperation would take the form of a joint venture named “BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification”.