By Mark Kleis
Monday, Apr 12th, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

Our spies have captured some very close-up images of a new BMW testing mule that runs on a combination of hydrogen fuel and electricity. The mule reportedly utilizes the traditional front-wheel drive system, and then adds power to the rear wheels from an electric generator.

BMW has announced the development of a hydrogen hybrid system that could potentially be used in an upcoming version of its new front-wheel drive BMW or MINI models, and now we have captured evidence of this project in testing.

As Autocar explains, BMW’s new hydrogen hybrid, known as “fuel cell hybrid technology,” is intended to allow vehicles to travel completely emission-free while in cities – something its gasoline-electric counterparts cannot accomplish. The system functions by utilizing the traditional MINI drivetrain to drive the front wheels, fueled by hydrogen, while using an 82kW electric motor for the rear axle.

The drivetrain in the front is relatively conventional, aside from the addition of a hydrogen fuel cell, but the rear uses an Auxiliary Power Unit that generates 5 kW. This small generator channels its energy into supercapacitors, – which are essentially a quick discharge storage device that are similar to a battery – which then send their energy to an 82 kW eletric motor which drives the rear axle.

BMW has not yet given the hydrogen hybrid powertrain a production confirmation, citing the need for hydrogen refueling stations in order to make the technology viable.

References
1. ‘BMW’s radical hydrogen hybrid…’ view

  

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