BMW has announced that it has developed a second-generation of its Hydrogen 7. The original Hydrogen 7 — which BMW began leasing to high-profile clientèle in 2006 — could run on both hydrogen and gasoline, but the latest iteration will only run on hydrogen.
Unlike typical hydrogen vehicles from General Motors, Toyota and Honda – which use a hydrogen fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity — the BMW Hydrogen 7 combusts hydrogen in the same way that a gasoline engine would. The Hydrogen 7 even uses a version of the 6.0L V12 found in the road-going 760Li, which allows for the capability to run on either hydrogen or gasoline.
However, because the Hydrogen 7 uses hydrogen in the same way a normal car would use gasoline, it requires the hydrogen to remain in a liquid state. This requires a 30 gallon tank that can’t get any warmer than -423°F. And because the tank of liquid hydrogen builds pressure when not in use, the system has to vent once the tank hits 87 psi. That means that a Hydrogen 7 will have a bone dry tank after sitting for 10-12 days.
The first-generation Hydrogen 7 only returned about 4.7 mpg when running on hydrogen and 19.5 mpg — highway — on gas. BMW claims a hydrogen range of 125, with another 300 miles being supplied by the 19.5 gallon gas tank.
But BMW says that the hydrogen-only version of the car will show improvements in range and performance, although BMW has yet to release any performance numbers. BMW is expected to give full details on the latest Hydrogen 7 when it is shown at the 2008 National Hydrogen Association Conference and the 2008 SAE World Congress.
04/04, 4:02 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Interesting way of doing it.
Again, the best luxury car available.
04/04, 4:04 PM
posted by:
MercMark
Germans and Hydrogen don’t mix.
04/04, 4:07 PM
posted by:
shaver
-423 sounds safe, easy and convinient to deal with.
04/04, 4:12 PM
posted by:
LaCaLover
lol MercMark Oh The Humanity
04/04, 5:10 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
mark: good one.
04/04, 6:57 PM
posted by:
56oval
I can’t wait to see the fireball when that bad boy gets rear-ended by a Peterbilt!
04/04, 7:11 PM
posted by:
america1st
I’ll feel sorry for the guy in the peterbuilt, the guy in the bmw , I’ll laugh.
04/04, 9:00 PM
posted by:
Stridder44
-423 F!? Holy ****!
But hey at least their makin progress.
04/04, 9:16 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
To maintain that temperature is going to be a big problem in warmer climates…hell I’m surprised this isn’t limited to driving around Alaska only!
04/04, 9:19 PM
posted by:
autonut
The model shall be called 7 Series Hindenburg edition. And if the putz who drives it blows up in flames all the Jewish souls murdered during Holocaust will laughing their asses off.
04/04, 11:49 PM
posted by:
Richard
@ MercMark (No. 3) and autonut
Hydrogen has received a bad rap. The Hindenburg disaster was not a hydrogen fire. The fire was on the powder coating on the zeppelin’s skin. The weight of hydrogen is something like 7% the weight of air. If a hydrogen tank springs a link, then it rapidly rises into the air and away from any ignition point.
04/05, 12:18 AM
posted by:
AdibzumbaAbihganulah
Yup, Richard. You can see it on the video. The fire is restricted to the skin.
04/05, 2:09 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Autonut: the Holocaust never happened. It’s part of a jewish conspiracy. The nazis were misunderstood.
04/05, 2:16 PM
posted by:
Commodore
To try to get this thread away from becoming a Holocaust/Nazi discussion I’ll actually comment on what this thread is supposed to be about…
This would be a really smart way for BMW to premiere its new 7 series design. Instead of just showing the regular car at an auto show, premiere it as the new Hydrogen 7. That way, you will show the new design of the 7er, and advertise the Hydrogen system.
04/05, 6:22 PM
posted by:
autonut
JJT, I would like to believe you, but since my father was one of the soldiers opening gates of concentration camp with the round from his rifle, I doubt that he would lie to me. Plus all his medals; could all officers and soldiers who fought under Ike being wrong and Ike himself? I recall Ike saying “today I am ashamed for being German”.
04/05, 10:33 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Just want to say the 1 series is a little POS Its still 36 k and it truly has NO room The X6 looks great but makes no sense at all
04/07, 5:00 AM
posted by:
The Stig
Nothing is ever 100% safe.
04/07, 9:57 AM
posted by:
MercMark
The skin burned so rapidly because of the hydrogen. There was a good explanation on Mythbusters. The skin itself would burn slower without the hydrogen fueling the fire.
04/07, 12:42 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
autonut: Is your sarcasm detector busted? if so, you can’t hope to understand 1115.