BMW was not kidding when it said it would offer a 7-Series with a hydrogen combustion engine within two years. Back in March, an AFX News report citing BMW sources said a production version of the 745h concept was on schedule for launch in 2008. BMW first provided a timeline when it unveiled the concept in 2004, at the time saying the car was four years away from production. Now, spy photographers in Germany have captured photos of an actual road-going prototype in testing. One photo even shows a prototype with what appears to be a hydrogen cylinder in its trunk.
The German automaker’s hydrogen efforts center around hydrogen combustion technology, which promises to offer motorists a driving experience very similar to that of gasoline engines, without having to compromise performance.
The BMW approach is not the same as a hydrogen fuel cell, and does not involve the use of electric motors. The first cars are expected to run on either hydrogen or gasoline.
09/08, 10:48 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Oh man, I can’t wait for the infrastructure to be in place so I can drive this *everywhere*! No more harmful exhaust fumes, this truly is a win-win situation.
09/08, 11:38 AM
posted by:
Wickedated
KABOOOOOM!!!!!!! *mini mushroom cloud*
09/08, 11:44 AM
posted by:
Veda
Just make sure you can fill it up on long trips.
09/08, 1:09 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Perhaps it is tempting fate to employ Bangle’s “flame surfacing” on a hydrogen powered car.
09/08, 2:04 PM
posted by:
Renton
The Motor Works at work…
09/08, 2:42 PM
posted by:
Fatstrat
HA!
That’s funny Stig!
Pushing the tech. is good. Still not very practical, but very interesting stuff.
09/08, 3:25 PM
posted by:
bacalao
sweet
09/08, 4:35 PM
posted by:
Bush
That’s one way to tell the folks in the Mid-East to take a hike.
In the long run I would think this could “kill” the hybrids.
Go for it!!!
09/08, 8:03 PM
posted by:
AuDub
how does this work and will this be 100% gasoline free??
09/08, 11:09 PM
posted by:
JSP
I thought BMW has been testing the 7 series at the Frankfurt airport for years…?
09/09, 8:27 AM
posted by:
BMW Testing Hydrogen Combustion 7-Series - German Car Scene
[...] [Source: Left Lane News] [...]
09/09, 10:24 AM
posted by:
Lucky7Star
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe… Once stations are set to supply the hydrogen, most likely in some kind of refilled cylinder very similar in what you have with the CO2 Paint or Pellet Gun cartridges then these sealed units could be centrally filled in find a distribution network very quickly. Once the idea is accepted (which is really the main hurtle getting past the fossil age Neanderthal mind set) then, without the need for major retooling of the internal combustion engine, distribution could happen almost over night. It would indeed change the world and put the petrol terrorist out of business once and for all.
09/09, 10:26 AM
posted by:
ohnodoctor
This website has a good explanation of how hydrogen combustion engines work:
http://www.switch2hydrogen.com/
Basically, it just injects H2 into your engine instead of gasoline. It also stores the in-tank Hydrogen in a form in which it cannot explode.
09/09, 10:32 AM
posted by:
BMW begins testing hydrogen combustion engine » News around the World
[...] BMW was not kidding when it said it would offer a 7-Series with a hydrogen combustion engine within two years. The company is now testing actual production prototypes. The cars can run on both gasoline and hydrogen. No electric motors are involved. When running on hydrogen, there are no emissions.read more | digg story [...]
09/09, 11:32 AM
posted by:
flauwekul » H2 BMW
[...] Terwijl al “die andere merken” zich verder concentreren op millieuonvriendelijke dieselmotoren kijkt BMW tenminste naar een duurzame oplossing. In 2008 wil het bedrijf al de 1ste 7-series lanceren met waterstof motoren. Sommige autofabriekanten begrijpen het tenminste. [...]
09/09, 2:39 PM
posted by:
BMW 745h — Criando Cuervos
[...] En todo caso el BMW ya esta rodando el ultimo prototipo disponible por las calles de Alemania. [...]
09/09, 3:01 PM
posted by:
Jon Luc
If they build it they will come. I’d buy one.
09/09, 4:30 PM
posted by:
BMW begins testing hydrogen combustion engine « The ePiC rAMblInGs of Justisengard
[...] read more | digg story [...]
09/10, 7:50 AM
posted by:
Aston_
About Bloody Time!
09/11, 12:14 PM
posted by:
BMW begins testing hydrogen combustion engine at ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
[...] BMW was not kidding when it said it would offer a 7-Series with a hydrogen combustion engine within two years. The company is now testing actual production prototypes. The cars can run on both gasoline and hydrogen. No electric motors are involved. When running on hydrogen, there are no emissions.read more | digg story Search Goo Tick, Tick [...]
09/12, 12:41 PM
posted by:
BESComputers Blog » Blog Archive » BMW begins testing hydrogen combustion engine
[...] BMW was not kidding when it said it would offer a 7-Series with a hydrogen combustion engine within two years. The company is now testing actual production prototypes. The cars can run on both gasoline and hydrogen. No electric motors are involved. When running on hydrogen, there are no emissions.read more | digg story [...]
09/15, 9:54 AM
posted by:
Ed thinks… » Blog Archive » BMW to Blow Hydrogen
[...] BMW is aggressively developing hydrogen combustion engine systems to replace or supplant the typical hybrid or electric models. It will be interesting to see how this fairs against competing technologies in terms of performance, price, and ability to fill up. [...]
10/04, 8:05 AM
posted by:
EveryDigg » Blog Archive » BMW begins testing hydrogen combustion engine
[...] BMW was not kidding when it said it would offer a 7-Series with a hydrogen combustion engine within two years. The company is now testing actual production prototypes. The cars can run on both gasoline and hydrogen. No electric motors are involved. When running on hydrogen, there are no emissions.read more | digg story [...]