Road Test: BMW Hydrogen Powered 7 Series

Jules Verne, in his 1874 novel The Mysterious Island, described hydrogen as an "inexhaustible source of heat and light." A little over 130 years later, BMW is testing the theory with an innovative internal combustion engine that burns the lightest element much like gasoline, only cleaner.

Wired News was invited to test-drive one of BMW's new Hydrogen 7 automobiles recently. It proved a serious step forward in using hydrogen as a potential energy source for cars, while showing defects that make the concept a clear work in progress.

BMW is the only major carmaker to bring a car with a hydrogen-combustion engine beyond the prototype stage.

The automaker's approach is markedly different than the more familiar concept of hydrogen-powered fuel cells, where energy is stored before it is converted into electricity. By contrast, BMW's Hydrogen 7 is powered by pumping hydrogen into a combustion engine and igniting it. The engine can burn both hydrogen and gasoline, and switches between the two at the flick of a switch.



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Autoegr525 - 11/14/2006 3:46:29 PM

+1 Boost

Hindenburg?

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/14/2006 6:30:57 PM

+2 Boost

What is your point ???

Might as wel say:
TITANIC
CHALLENGER
LOCKHEED MARTIN :-)
CONCORDE

The only thing to Fear is Fear itself, if not we will never progress.

Homer008 - 11/14/2006 8:33:25 PM

-1 Boost

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/09/12/021625.html

Quoted as the World's first luxury hydrogen powered car and well done! Finally thinking outside of the box and actually building it kinda amazes me coming from Germans. They bolster so much bullshit and it rarely happens when it comes to a true innovations. Perhaps if they actually deliver their promises as they did with this car.. American market may look at you different way..For now reputation shows in sales. Horrifying. Just absolutely horrifying...terrible...I smell a bankrupt :(

Sheepdog

chewy - 11/15/2006 1:30:02 AM

-2 Boost

Not much outside the box thinking here.

MunichRob - 11/15/2006 1:43:48 AM

+1 Boost

"huu76" you don't sound to smart with your comments... This hydrogen 7 can soley run of hydrogen if you wish, but the fact is hydrogen isn't as readily available as gasoline, so yeah people wan't the assurance they can't get stranded!

BMW clearly hasn't messed this up, their pioneering the hydrogen market like Honda & Toyota have with hybrids. They've worked a way to actually bring us this technology sooner than possible, and all I'm hearing is hating.

Leave it to the German's especially BMW, to think outside of the box right "Chewy"? - Audi troll.