Engineering thread.....

BMW South Africa has built a special V8-engined M3 Coupé “frozen edition” to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first M3 which made its debut at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show. Only 25 will be made and priced at R1,180,000 with eight available in 2010, and the balance following in the first quarter of 2011. This special M3 will only come in two exclusive colours: Frozen Black and Frozen Grey. The matt paintwork is matched to red brake callipers, black leather with red stitching and gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels. Each car will also feature the the M Dual Clutch Transmission as part of the standard specification. More significantly however, these special BMW M3 Coupés will also rely heavily on performance enhancing parts from AC Schnitzer to further enhance their exclusivity.

Featuring an AC Schnitzer exhaust pipe, intake manifold and a revised engine management system, all covered under the standard BMW Motorplan and Warranty, the Frozen Edition BMW M3 Coupé will now produce 330kW at 8,400rpm and 420Nm of torque at 3,900rpm and be limited to 250km/h and average 11.2 litres/100km. (Standard BMW M3: 309kW at 8,300rpm and 400Nm at 3900rpm). Twenty five years ago BMW created an icon when it debuted the very first BMW M3 at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show. At the time, the sportiest BMW 3 Series ever produced boasted 150kW, top speed in excess of 230km/h, and a sprint from a standing start to 100km/h inside 6.7 seconds. More significantly, the BMW M3 created a legacy of driver involvement, sublime handling and giant-killing performance that has passed to each of the car’s four generations. South African buyers never experienced that first BMW M3.





It was only built in left-hand drive and the first BMW M3 to reach these shores was the six-cylinder E36 M3 Coupe of the early 1990s. So, to meet demand for a sport BMW 3 Series in the late eighties, BMW SA’s engineers at Plant Rosslyn produced two very special BMW 3 Series for South Africa only. The first was the Alpina-based BMW 333i, which shoehorned a 145kW 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine into the two-door BMW 3 Series saloon in 1985. Then, in the late 1980s, the Rosslyn engineers created the BMW 325iS. Initially this was merely a two-door 325i saloon fitted with a bodykit and a close-ratio gearbox which improved acceleration at the expense of top speed and economy. But more changes were made to keep the car competitive in South African saloon car racing culminating in the 325iS Evo II of late 1991. By now several body panels were made of aluminum and the engine capacity grew to 2.7-litres, produced 155kW and the car achieved a 0-100km/h dash in a mere 7.5 seconds.

Sasol has flown the world’s first passenger aircraft using the company’s own-developed and internationally approved 100% synthetic jet fuel. Sasol took to the skies with the world’s first fully synthetic jet fuel flight on Tuesday, 21st of September 2010.

Sanctioned by the global aviation fuel specification authorities the fuel, produced by Sasol’s proprietary Coal to Liquids (CTL) process, is the only first fully synthetic fuel to be approved for use in commercial airliners. This marks significant development in the adoption of clean burning alternate fuels for the aviation industry.

The fuel is the product of over 15 years of work, driven by South African scientists within South Africa, using home-grown technology. The historic flights, from Lanseria Airport in Gauteng to Cape Town, also kicked-off Sasol’s 60th birthday celebrations and staged fly-pasts at the opening of the Africa Aerospace and Defense (AAD) 2010
exhibition, at Cape Town’s Ysterplaat Air Force Base.

Speaking from the air force base, where he landed on one of the inaugural flights, Sasol Chief executive, Pat Davies said, “The approval by the international aviation fuel authorities, of this product, recognises the need to develop aviation fuel from feedstocks other than crude-oil, in order to meet the world’s growing needs”.

Extensive testing has been conducted to ensure that no differences will be experienced if flying on this fuel, other than the lower soot and sulphur turbine-out emissions, that result from the virtually zero sulphur. This fuel is entirely safe and has successfully completed stringent testing with local and international authorities. The fuel, however, is currently not commercially available and it is therefore not possible to speculate on pricing –
should it enter the market.

The twin challenges of promoting economic development, while also delivering environmentally sustainable energy solutions, can only be met through innovation. Sasol says it’s committed to ongoing research to deliver sustainable alternative energy solutions to meet the world’s transportation needs.

The international approval of this fully synthetic jet fuel, by UK and US aviation authorities for military and commercial use, is an indication that important progress has been made in both the technical development and the governance arena.

Laraki Fulgura, the moroccan sport car

Fulgura (or Fulgura Laraki) (Arabic: فولغورا) is the brand name of the first Arab African and Moroccan sports car. It was originally designed and produced in Casablanca, Morocco. It was entirely conceived and manufactured by Laraki group.

The Laraki Fulgura was the company's first attempt at a sports car. Originally unveiled as a concept at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the production version debuted a year later at the same show. A slightly redesigned version of the bodywork was unveiled in 2005.The car is known by its luxurious design.

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Electric vehicules made in Marrakech

Overview

Tri Atlas Motors (TRIAM) is a privately held Limited Liability company based in Marrakech, Morocco and was founded by Younes HORMA.
TRIAM is a joint-venture with the well established Groupe Menara Holding.

The company is looking to create a new distinct and nonexistent market in the automotive and transportation segments in Morocco.
Business Objectives

TRIAM aims to be the first Arab and African company to manufacture its own brand of good quality utility vehicles to answer the urgent need for more economical and ecological vehicles in developing countries such as Morocco.

http://www.triatlasmotors.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/lang,en/

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TRELEC

La voiture écologique par excellence
Dotées de 4 roues tous terrains, les TRELEC sont des véhicules 100% électriques avec 0% d’émission de CO2, une autonomie de 80 km, une vitesse maximale de 50km/h et une consommation minimale !
Les TRELEC sont idéals pour circuler au sein de la ville, des centres hôteliers, résidentiels, commerciaux, hospitaliers, complexes sportifs, golfs, aéroports, gares, chantiers…etc.
Tri Atlas Motors personnalise votre TRELEC selon vos goûts et vos besoins : bennes fermées, bennes isothermiques, ambulance, police, gardiennage…etc.


TRIAM

Le véhicule utilitaire par excellence
Les triporteurs TRIAM sont des utilitaires à 3 roues. D’une capacité allant de 350 kg en entrée de gamme, à 800 kg pour le haut de gamme avec cabine pour 2 passagers, les TRIAM sont des véhicules à essence qui disposent d’un moteur 4 temps, d’un système de refroidissement liquide, d'un châssis solide et homogène, d'un pont différentiel et d'une marche arrière.
Les TRIAM conviennent parfaitement pour le transport de tous types de marchandises en milieu urbain (livraison rapide, travaux publics, agro-alimentaire, messagerie, tourisme…etc.).
Tri Atlas Motors aménage votre TRIAM selon vos exigences : bennes en aluminium, bennes isothermiques, vente ambulante…etc.

http://www.triatlasmotors.com/conten...28/38/lang,fr/

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the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ’s) Bar-1 hybrid vehicle traveled the furthest distance in a single South African event, reaching 1 845,4 km, and the furthest distance in a day, at 472,3 km.

The Bar-1 combines hydrogen fuel cells with an electric motor and a Yamaha R6 motorbike engine. The fuel cells and electric motor add enough power to keep the revolutions down on the motorbike engine, which reduces emissions significantly.

Counsil for Scientific and Industrial Research



Guests from industry, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the SA Air Force (SAAF), the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and academia who attended the début flight on 15 January 2009 by autopilot of a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at White Hills Radio Flyers airfield in Centurion, applauded spontaneously as the aircraft descended on the mini runway.

This phenomenal achievement was not just another scientific breakthrough; it heralded a new dawn for South African research that combines the potential of information and communications technology (ICT) with excellence in aeronautical design.

The planned test flight mission follows the successful maiden radio-controlled flight of this modular UAV a month ago at the same venue.

With funding provided by the DST and managed by the Meraka Institute of the CSIR, the project has reached an important milestone. Researchers have developed and tested a four-metre wing span modular UAV, incorporating a Stellenbosch University-developed autopilot. This airframe will be made available as a UAV test bed for use by researchers, universities and other tertiary institutions.

This milestone forms part of a bigger Meraka UAV project. Project manager Lloyd Munday of the Meraka Institute explains, "South Africa still does not have a single civilian UAV in operation. For these applications, the ICT component of the UAV is extremely important, because that is what makes the UAV useful. It links the UAV's payload, which could be a camera or radar, into some kind of larger integrated system designed to fulfil some basic user requirement, such as providing an aerial view of a forest fire." Munday prefers to speak of an unmanned aerial system, which captures this concept more accurately.

While the programme will focus on ways to make UAVs safer, cheaper and improve their access to airspace, Lloyd highlights a myriad possible applications for this sophisticated platform, "UAVs are changing the world we live in by enhancing activities ranging from support for humanitarian aid, environmental management and border control to traffic monitoring and control, agriculture, infrastructure surveys and monitoring and communications relaying. We will explore innovative ways of using ICT to its best advantage on the UAV."

Speaking on behalf of the DST, Isaac Maredi said, "What is critical to us, is the modular approach to the UAV," he said. "This is a very good approach and the next step is to work more on aspects of airframe."

Gerrie Smit from Armscor, one of the many guests attending the demonstration, said, "We assess requirements for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and also support it in refining its requirements. We are also looking at different systems to suit these requirements." He said that the SANDF had UAVs but "it is very expensive to run them and we are interested in finding better ways (of operating them). We are looking at some of these technologies being developed and their potential for industry," he said.

"After what I have seen today there seems to a possibility to use the UAV in the law enforcement environment with customisations that fit our requirements and specifications," said Director Leonie Ras from SAPS Technology Management. "This is a nice tool to have in our work environment." Ras said the UAV would be "good" for short-range operations. For 2010, she said, it could be used to monitor crowd movement around the venues. "This UAV seems to mind its own business in the air," she quipped, adding that it could be deployed to monitor trains, border lines and focus on contraband and smuggling routes.

Colonel Ian van Vuuren from SAAF said the UAV could lead to products for use by the SANDF and by other security services. "What is more interesting is to see a 'cross pollination' of all the entities interested and involved, which is excellent," he said. "The CSIR has laid the basis for a home-grown leading-edge UAV technology that we would otherwise have to buy from overseas."

The airframe was conceived, designed and the first prototype test flown by members of the CSIR's aeronautic systems area in a period of approximately six months.

"A modular design concept was chosen to allow changes to wing span and fuselage length and numbers to be easily made, altering the UAV's performance and handling characteristics to suit specific research payloads," he said.

Based on knowledge of UAV systems developed over the years, the CSIR chose to use electrical propulsion systems to improve the airframe's reliability as a test bed and reduce flight test risks. Each of the two fuselages is capable of being functionally independent of each other, each with brushless electric motors, speed controllers, batteries and flight control systems. Redundancy in the flight controls and propulsion systems is envisaged to enable longer term research on reconfigurable autopilots.

With funding from the CSIR, the Stellenbosch University's Engineering Systems Laboratory has further developed its autopilot technology previously used in the CSIR 'Sekwa' variable stability mini-UAV. This new autopilot has been integrated into the rear of the payload pod, leaving space for other payloads in the forward portions.

Under the same project, said Monk, the CSIR's aeronautics systems experts are also currently developing a UAV system integration laboratory (SIL) to simulate the UAV system and its flying characteristics. The SIL will consist of a high-fidelity simulated flight model of the UAV using actual flight test and wind tunnel test data. One UAV airframe with its autopilot will form part of the hardware of the SIL. This SIL provides the capability to test new UAV-related technologies in a controlled but realistic environment before committing to flight.


Baseline modular UAV specifications:

Wing span 4 m
Payload capability 10 kg
Stall speed 54 km/h
Dash speed 120 km/h
Engine power 6 kW (less than 1 kW required in loiter)
Flight duration 45 minutes.

Not sure exactly what we're supposed to post. Just random stuff?

I'll post a couple

The Solaris Elettra - first electric car manufactured in Ethiopia - Second only to SA on the continent

Tekeze hydropower is a finalist for Power Engineering magazine Award

The Tekeze hydropower project in Ethiopia has been selected as one of the finalists for the Power Engineering magazine Projects of the Year Awards. The editors of Power Engineering magazine and PennWell Corp. have announced 11 finalists for the annual Projects of the Year Awards program. Two hydropower projects are among the finalists for this year's awards, these are the Tekeze hydropower in Ethiopia and the Canoe Creek hydroelectric project in British Columbia, Canada.

The Tekezé Dam, is a large, $360 million dollar hydroelectric in double-curvature arch dam in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia on the Tekezé River, a Nile tributary that flows through one of the deepest canyons in the world.. At the time of completion, the 188 meter high dam is said to be Africa's largest arch dam. The dam consists of four turbines, generating 300 MW of electricity together. The dam helped to reduce power shortages as Ethiopia's power demand continues to increase.

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SouthWest Energy agrees to acquire PETRONAS Carigali's oil, gas interests in Ethiopia

Wednesday, 06 October 2010

Addis Ababa, October 6 (WIC) - SouthWest Energy is pleased to announce that on 24 September 2010 it agreed to purchase from PETRONAS Carigali Overseas Sdn Bhd (PETRONAS Carigali), all of its oil and gas interests in Ethiopia.

According to Business Wire, the transaction is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2011 following the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, including regulatory approval.

PETRONAS Carigali Overseas Sdn Bhd, which is the international exploration and production subsidiary of Malaysia’s national oil company, PETRONAS, is a party to five petroleum production sharing agreements (PSAs) for oil and gas exploration and production in Ethiopia.

SouthWest Energy has agreed to purchase 100 per cent of PETRONAS Carigali's interests in each of those PSAs.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for SouthWest Energy to expand its exploration and production activities in Ethiopia," said Tewodros Ashenafi, Chairman and CEO of SouthWest Energy.

"This transaction will transform SouthWest Energy into the leading force in the Ethiopian upstream industry. We intend to develop these new blocks together with our existing blocks as quickly as possible and to work on developing transport solutions for hydrocarbons in the Ogaden Basin. This development will be a cornerstone not only for SouthWest Energy's future growth, but also for the oil and gas industry in Ethiopia."


Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is acting as SouthWest Energy's legal advisors on the transaction, and Standard Bank Plc is acting as SouthWest Energy's financial advisor.


SouthWest Energy (H.K.) Limited was formed in 2005 and is the only Ethiopian-owned company to successfully obtain an energy concession in Ethiopia.

SouthWest Energy is currently developing Blocks 9, 9A and 13 in the Ogaden Basin under PSAs it entered into in 2005 and 2007.

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