The H2R is the most recent incarnation of BMW’s ongoing Hydrogen research program, and is the 16th edition in their Art Car Collection. Not only merely a work of grand artistic proportions, the research vehicle has already achieved nine records for hydrogen-powered cars on the high-speed of track of Miramas in France.
BMW Hydrogen 7
Featuring a combustion engine, the H2R prototype can accelerate from 0-62mph in six seconds, achieving a top speed of over 186mph. Further to the prototype, BMW have manufactured the Hydrogen 7 - a hybrid and petrol road going car, 100 of which have been produced so far.
The Hydrogen 7 is the first virtually emission-free hydrogen powered luxury saloon in the world and has been designed for every day use. The engine, suspension and body are all based on the BMW 760i and 760Li Saloons, but at the same time the Hydrogen 7 features a dual-mode twelve-cylinder combustion power unit that can be run on either liquid-hydrogen or conventional gasoline. In fact, one of the most impressive features of the Hydrogen 7 is the ability to switch between the two whilst driving via a button on the steering wheel. In addition it doesn’t cause any noticeable changes to performance or engine noise.
The Hydrogen 7 and H2R demonstrate the effectiveness of liquid hydrogen in automotive design and is BMW’s fuel of choice for zero emissions. Although liquid hydrogen has to be kept at minus 252 degrees Celsius in a double walled vacuum tank, it has a higher energy density than hydrogen gas and none of the disposable difficulties of electric batteries.
In fact, the technology employed by BMW on the Hydrogen 7 works. and it works well; but it is taking this to the mass market that could prove tricky. An entire worldwide network of hydrogen fuelling stations is now required, which may take some time to put in place. However, a glimmer of hope can be found in the sunshine state of California, where they are in the process of building a hydrogen highway from the North to the South, encouraging more of it’s citizens to actively participate in reducing damaging fuel emissions.
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