BMW starts Hydrogen-era
Everyone is proposing hydrogen as the fuel of the future because after it has been used, the only ‘exhaust’ is water. But not all car companies are using hydrogen in the same way. While almost everyone is using hydrogen to power a fuel-cell, BMW is using it in a modified internal combustion engine.
Not just any engine, mind you, but its top-of-the-line V-12 in the 760i and 760Li limousines. The Hydrogen 7, as BMW calls it, has a bi-fuel engine that is can use both petrol and hydrogen. Performance remains impressive with the V-12 putting out 260bhp and the Hydrogen 7 accelerating from 0-100km/h in 9.5 sec.
In order to maximize the efficiency of the hydrogen though, the Hydrogen 7 stores it in its liquid state, which means it has to be chilled to -253 degrees and compressed at 700 bar. At present there are only a limited number of hydrogen filling stations, much less one that is able to supply hydrogen in its liquid state. Until hydrogen is more widely available, most Hydrogen 7s will probably be tanked up with petrol.
The Hydrogen 7 is the first hydrogen-powered car in series production and is produced at BMW’s Dingolfing plant along side standard 7, 6 and 5 Series models. It’s good to know that when and if hydrogen does take over from petrol as fuel for our cars, we’ll still be able to engine the sound and feel of a classic internal combustion engine.
Credits: Justin_Lee
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