BMW Is Making Hydrogen Drive Ready For Series Production

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BMW Is Making Hydrogen Drive Ready For Series Production
BMW Is Making Hydrogen Drive Ready For Series Production

Video: BMW Is Making Hydrogen Drive Ready For Series Production

Video: BMW Is Making Hydrogen Drive Ready For Series Production
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The times of simulation games are over. BMW brings a 7 Series with hydrogen drive onto the market. Initially, however, it will only be produced in small series.

By Stefan Grundhoff

Toyota plays hybrid, Mercedes is replacing diesel with Bluetec and after years of development, BMW can present its first hydrogen-powered vehicle in 2007. Next year, the E 65 luxury sedan should also be available to the general public with a drive of the future. The official launch of the Hydrogen 7 should be at the Detroit Motor Show in early 2007. The fleet of the old 750 hL hydrogen sevens had its first big appearance at the Expo 2000 in Hanover.

Additional fuel filler flap

From the outside, the 7 Series looks as if it couldn't cloud a little water. The only thing that a trained eye will notice is the additional fuel filler flap in the right C-pillar, the missing fog lights and the more strongly contoured bonnet. Otherwise, at most, the seat occupancy indicates a hydrogen sevens. In contrast to its petrol and diesel-powered brothers, there was no avoiding a significant reduction in the size of the trunk to 225 liters and a fixed center armrest in the rear.

Despite a length of 5.19 meters, the Hydrogen 7 is a four-seater. If the combustion of hydrogen has been under control for a number of years, the storage of the highly sensitive fuel remains one of the greatest challenges.

Mighty luggage compartment

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The fuel storage for hydrogen has expanded into the huge luggage compartment. Two stainless steel sheets, each two millimeters thick, and vacuum insulation in between ensure that the total of eight kilograms of hydrogen remain liquid. Impressive: the insulation, which is only 30 millimeters thick, corresponds to 17 meters of ordinary styrofoam. In the BMW Hydrogen 7, the insulation keeps the - 250 degrees Celsius cold - hydrogen happy.

If the car is left unused in the garage for a long time, the hydrogen tank will gradually empty itself. This prevents the temperature in the tank from rising, even if only slightly. After nine days of idle time, only 20 kilometers can be covered in hydrogen mode.

Start in hydrogen mode

When driving, the clearly defined conversion of liquid to gaseous hydrogen is a permanent process. Due to the clean combustion, the 7 Series of the future will always be started in hydrogen mode. The maximum range of the 260 hp twelve-cylinder in gas operation is 200 kilometers. In addition to the cooling tank located in the trunk, the luxury sedan is equipped with a conventional 74 liter petrol tank. This can generate a further 500 kilometers of range.

When it comes to driving performance, BMW promises not to have to compromise. The converted 760 engine with variable valve control, however, only delivers 191 kW / 260 PS and a governed top speed of 230 km / h. Compared to the series 760 with its otherwise usual 445 hp, you have to accept a significant reduction in performance. The engine is closely related to that of the BMW H2R, which set the world speed record for hydrogen vehicles in September 2004 and was over 300 km / h.

The focus of the Hydrogen 7 is on the type of drive. The advantage of hydrogen: It can be obtained from biomass, sun, wind and hydropower and, unlike fossil fuels, is available in unlimited quantities. Compared to engines with diesel or gasoline in the tank, the exhaust of the Hydrogen 7 series blows nothing but water vapor into the environment. While the Bavarian's bivalent unit comes from the Munich engine factory, the Hydrogen 7 will roll off the assembly line together with the other models in the 5, 6 and 7 series on the normal production line in Dingolfing.

The price for the BMW Hydrogen 7 has not yet been determined. However, in terms of standard and special equipment, it is comparable to the well-known models of the E-65 series. The spring-damper set-up, like the safety components, has been adapted to the increased weight and greater crash requirements. The frame and crash zones were specifically reinforced through the use of composite materials.

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