BMW Hydrogen 7
by Jorge Chapa
September 25, 2007

BMW, the German car manufacturer, wants you to know that they believe hydrogen is the fuel source of the future. In order to do this, they have created the BMW Hydrogen 7, an all hydrogen powered luxury sedan that produces zero emissions. It’s serious business, or so says BMW, which is why they have enlisted the help of comedian and well known car enthusiast Jay Leno.

The Hydrogen 7 is not a concept vehicle, but an actual production model vehicle that has completed the entire product development line. It runs on a 12 cylinder, 260 horsepower engine capable of giving you a very respectable top speed of 140 miles per hour. On a full tank, you’ll be able to drive 125 miles before refueling. Naturally, as hydrogen fueling stations are a bit scarce at the moment, the Hydrogen 7 comes equipped with a separate gasoline tank just to make sure that you aren’t left stranded on the road looking for some fuel. Unlike most other hydrogen powered vehicles, BMW is choosing to take the less travelled path of using liquid hydrogen rather than hydrogen based fuel cells.

Jay Leno is joined by other car enthusiasts, celebrities and opinion makers in being the first ones to drive a Hydrogen 7. BMW hopes that, by putting these vehicles in the hands of those who shape popular culture and opinion, enough support will be created to deliver the infrastructure required for a hydrogen fuel economy.

SOURCE: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/09/25/transportation-tuesday-bmw-hydrogen-7/

The BMW Hydrogen 7

To help protect the environment, we looked to the elements.

Our long-term EfficientDynamics strategy can be summed up with one vehicle: the BMW Hydrogen 7. As the world's first luxury performance sedan with hydrogen drive, it runs on the most plentiful element in the world and emits virtually nothing but water vapor. And because the infrastructure for refueling a hydrogen internal combustion engine is not yet complete, the V-12 engine also runs on gasoline at the push of a button, though emissions will result. But all it takes is the power of the Hydrogen 7's 12-cylinder, 260 horsepower engine to prove the capability of our EfficientDynamics. The BMW Hydrogen 7 is not available for purchase at this time, but is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation.

On a global level, hydrogen technology addresses the growing gaps in the supply of fossil fuels. More specifically, it is the only fuel that can allow for a reduction in the overall emission cycle, while meeting our energy needs in a sustainable way. Besides, not many fuels can be produced from renewable sources such as sun, wind, water and biomass.

Determined to bring the power of hydrogen to the world, our initiative goes far beyond the vehicle itself. We are already collaborating with a wide range of dedicated partners, from global fuel distributors and fuel technology companies to government agencies and environmental groups. Today in Germany, there are five liquid hydrogen refueling stations - and soon there will be two in the US. Developed with Linde AG, they are virtually as easy to use as normal gasoline pumps.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 is just another example of how we allow great ideas to live on to become Ultimate Driving Machines®. 

SOURCE: BMW Hydrogen 7