BMW Hydrogen 7 Revealed

[Abdul]

Introducing a New Era of Mobility
BMW presents the world’s first hydrogen-drive luxury performance saloon for everyday use.
A milestone en route to sustained mobility completely free of pollutants.
BMW CleanEnergy strategy paves the way to mobility independent of fossil fuels.
BMW Hydrogen 7 has successfully completed the process of series development.
The hydrogen combustion engine as a trendsetting and practical drive concept.
Twelve-cylinder power unit offering dynamic performance typical of BMW with virtually no harmful emissions and CO2.
BMW liquid hydrogen technology providing a significant cruising range for practical use.
Progress without compromises: BMW Hydrogen 7 combines CleanEnergy with all the comfort and the thrilling driving experience of a luxury performance saloon.
Dual-mode drive: Flexible switchover from hydrogen to gasoline providing an overall range of more than 700 kilometres.
New momentum in the development of infrastructure: Hydrogen supply at conventional filling stations gaining significance.
BMW is the world’s first car maker to present a hydrogen-drive car which has successfully completed the process of series development: The BMW Hydrogen 7 with its hydrogen combustion engine is the result of a consistent development strategy now rendering this trendsetting concept of sustained mobility fully suitable for regular use in today’s world.

The BMW 7 Series Hydrogen 7 Saloon is powered by a 191 kW twelve-cylinder and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 230 km/h. And as long as full supply of hydrogen is not guaranteed, the dual-mode power unit featured in BMW Hydrogen 7 switches over quickly and conveniently to conventional premium gasoline.

Offering the world this highly practical solution, BMW is not only demonstrating its leadership in technology in the area of future-oriented drive systems. Rather, the integration of hydrogen drive in an existing vehicle concept which has already proven its merits in the market paves the way for an alternative to conventional drive concepts fully accepted in the market and with all the assets the customer is looking for in practice.

The launch of BMW Hydrogen 7 is therefore a milestone en route to an era of mobility independent of fossil fuels not only for the BMW Group but also for the entire automotive and energy industry.

BMW Hydrogen 7 clearly proves, therefore, that liquid hydrogen may by all means be used as a source of energy for the production car. Indeed, introducing BMW Hydrogen 7, the BMW Group is establishing powerful momentum for the ongoing development of a supply infrastructure serving above all to set up additional hydrogen filling stations providing sustained mobility on a broad basis also in future.

BMW CleanEnergy – the BMW Group’s energy strategy
The promotion and ongoing development of hydrogen technology as the appropriate type of energy for the future is an essential part of the BMW Group’s CleanEnergy strategy. In this context, BMW Hydrogen 7 serves as a pacemaker enabling all development partners participating in the concept to demonstrate the practical, everyday qualities and benefits of this jointly developed technology.

The BMW CleanEnergy concept therefore seeks to provide a drive technology which serves to fulfil current and future demand for individual mobility without the use of fossil fuels. Indeed, hydrogen technology offers the opportunity to dramatically reduce emissions generated by personal transport and, in particular, to minimise the emission of CO2: Running in the hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 basically emits nothing but vapour.

The vision of sustained mobility free of harmful emissions applies not only to the actual operation and use of the car, but also to the generation of drive energy: It is a well-known fact today that mankind needs alternatives to the consumption of fossil fuels limited in their availability. And contrary to such conventional fuels, hydrogen meets the requirements of the future in full both in its generation and in its sustainability, being embedded in the regenerating cycle of nature. Recovered from biomass or with the help of energy from the sun, from wind and hydro-power, hydrogen is available in virtually infinite supply. And if necessary it can also be generated with the help of natural gas, biogas, or other sources of primary energy.

As a result, the type of hydrogen recovery and production can be adjusted flexibly to current conditions and requirements, ensuring maximum diversification and facilitating the gradual substitution of fossil fuels step-by-step in the course of time.

Momentum for developing the right supply infrastructure: the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) and cooperation with Total
In developing the technical components required for using hydrogen, the BMW Group cooperates closely with specialised suppliers and partners in development. In addition, the BMW Group is a founding member of the Transport Energy Strategy (TES) and belongs to the Berlin Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) also comprising other car makers, energy supply companies, and public transport services.

CEP is part of Germany’s national strategy of sustainability, and is supported and promoted by the German Government. It was at the initiative of CEP that the first integrated hydrogen filling station was opened in Berlin, reflecting the Consortium’s objective to prove the qualities of hydrogen for everyday use in mobile applications.

To promote the use of hydrogen as a source of energy, the BMW Group has concluded an agreement with Total, the mineral oil and fuel supplier operating an integrated filling station with both conventional fuels and hydrogen in Berlin year ever since 2004. Yet another hydrogen filling station in the capital city of Germany – again as part of the CEP initiative – was then opened by Total in March 2006.

A new integrated hydrogen filling station also run by Total is to be opened in Munich at the end of 2006, marking the premiere of BMW Hydrogen 7 near the BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre. And last but certainly not least, the BMW Group and Total have agreed to open yet another integrated hydrogen filling station in a further large city in Europe.

Benefiting from experience already gained in practice, the process of filling up the hydrogen tank is now quite similar to the process of filling up a conventional tank under regular conditions at a gasoline or diesel fuel pump: As soon as the driver has manually connected the tank coupling to the fuel tank filler cap on the car, the entire process of filling up the tank is fully automatic.

BMW – the forerunner and leader in hydrogen drive technology
As a particularly innovative, strategically oriented car maker, BMW was very quick to assume responsibility for the promotion and introduction of sustained mobility concepts. Reflecting the Company’s traditional core competence in drivetrain technology, BMW started as early as in 1978 to conduct research on the hydrogen power unit, consistently developing and upgrading this technology with several generations of hydrogen cars in the years to come.

In the year 2000 BMW became the first car maker in the world to present a demonstration fleet of hydrogen-drive cars at the Expo 2000 World Fair in Hanover, Germany. In the meantime the BMW 750hL hydrogen car has proven its merits under practical testing conditions, clearly and impressively confirming the feasibility of this technology. And on the CleanEnergy World Tour, finally, the BMW Group was once again able to gain significant international attention on hydrogen technology and its great potential.

The world’s first public hydrogen filling station was opened at Munich Airport in the year 2000, again making a significant contribution in testing and improving the everyday qualities of this innovative drive technology. Indeed, the experience already gained at the time by the BMW Group and other car makers, fuel supply companies and the operators of the filling station at Munich Airport has significantly influenced and promoted ongoing development within the CEP imitative.

This experience has also been used, inter alia, in the concept of the hydrogen filling stations now operating in Berlin, where BMW Group test cars have been filled with hydrogen regularly ever since. Operation of the world’s first public hydrogen filling station will be ending in 2006 when it is replaced by the new integrated filling station in Munich.

[zoheb]

nice! but a lil slow...they should make it more powerful. this engine looks equivalent to the engine in the 730Li, .....i mean powerwise, but acceleration is slower. wonder how much more it will cost than a regular 730.

[Abdul]

it should come at the same price than a regular 760il I guess.This is tomorrow technology a big milestone in luxury automobile industry.Nice to own because it respect the nature zero emission

[zoheb]

760Li is around 120k USD.........so if this one is around the same price, then I'd rather buy 760Li.........i mean common, why would u want 256 hp, when u can get 440 hp with the same amount of money, unless u are extremely conscious abt the nature. But i mean think abt it,u want no pollution, so u spend 120k to get a 256 hp Hydrogen 7-er......but others will get the regular 760Li and have a much more powerful car than u. so only you buying the hydrogen 7-er won't help the nature anyways...so better stick to the regular 760Li, and have fun driving it.

[Neil]

Zoheb is right. I would rather get the 760Li. I really don't think it would sale much in US market. If you really worry about the polutions and stuff, i bet you will get a toyota prius or Toyota camry Hybrid, not a BMW 7 serise for 120k USD.

[arnab]

Zoheb is right. I would rather get the 760Li. I really don't think it would sale much in US market. If you really worry about the polutions and stuff, i bet you will get a toyota prius or Toyota camry Hybrid, not a BMW 7 serise for 120k USD.

The new S Class is more environmentally cleaner than the Prius