BMW has begun deploying its initial fleet of hydrogen-powered 7-Series sedans to high-profile people like celebrities and politicians. Bruce Gain of Wired News got a chance to get behind the wheel of a Hydrogen 7 for a road test.
“The test drive confirmed the vehicles are road-ready,” writes Gain. “At 110 mph along the highway on the outskirts of Berlin the sedan handles much like the German luxury carmaker’s flagship BMW 7 Series model, on which it is based.” Switching between gasoline and hydrogen modes in a breeze. “The car switches from hydrogen to gas mode with the press of a button on the steering wheel. I heard a small click from behind the backseat without any change in my speed or acceleration along the highway.”
Of course, there are still problems that need to be addressed. “At $10.30 per kilogram, hydrogen fuel is no bargain,” explains Gain. Of course, as infrastructure grows and production increases this will change. Another limitation is range — you can only go 120 miles on the hydrogen tank. But if the Hydrogen 7 didn’t need to have a gasoline tank as well, range would clearly be much longer. BMW “concedes its Hydrogen 7 production car is just a start” — but it’s a good one.
