Humble Hydrogen
The beauty of hydrogen as an alternative fuel is its by-product of combustion: only water vapor. Added to that, hydrogen is practically limitless in supply— it's a basic element that is widely available and evenly distributed across the planet. While most commercially "made" hydrogen is extracted from fossil fuels (the old-fashioned way), gleaning pure hydrogen from water using electrolysis with power generated by non-polluting renewable sources (think wind, solar, geo-thermal), is definitely a better way to go. Though some logistical kinks are still to be worked out, this method is truly a viable way to zero-emissions motoring.
The Beginnings — The Hydrogen 7 is Born
While much of the attention paid to using hydrogen as a transportation fuel is focused on hydrogen fuel cells, truly practical vehicles are still a few years away. BMW has been diligently developing a practical method for burning hydrogen in a more or less conventional internal combustion engine. Enter the Hydrogen 7—here and now. The company believes that building a sound hydrogen infrastructure is paramount to ensuring the success of hydrogen as a practical and accepted alternative fuel. With this goal in mind, BMW decided to focus its attention on tweaking the fuel management system of a conventional gasoline engine so it could effectively and efficiently burn hydrogen. By concentrating on this specific area, instead of trying to develop an entirely new propulsion system, the engineers were able to get the vehicle (with a basically proven drive-train), into production mode in minimal time.
The car wrapped around this technology is the beautiful and refined BMW 7 series model—and the Hydrogen 7 has undergone complete product development in which all new technologies have been integrated into the vehicle in accordance with criteria for regular production. Having all the power and comfort amenities of a conventional BMW 7 series, this vehicle has the "show" and the "go" to play a significant role in driving hydrogen technologies development.
Bi-fuel - Usability and Versatility
The Hydrogen 7 is powered by a smooth-as-glass, 260 horsepower, 12-cylinder 6.0 liter engine that develops 287 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 RPM. The combination of the engine's sophisticated variable VALVETRONIC valve management system and variable double-VANOS camshaft adjustment allows it to effectively utilize two entirely different fuels with completely different burn characteristics. The Hydrogen 7 is a masterpiece of bi-fuel engineering.
In keeping with its commitment to making hydrogen a viable fuel, BMW realizes that producing a vehicle that is truly usable in the everyday world is paramount. By concentrating its efforts on evolving an internal combustion engine that can run seamlessly on both hydrogen and gasoline, the company has built a hydrogen powered vehicle that can still function on everyday fuel while the hydrogen infrastructure is in its infancy. At the touch of a button on the steering wheel, it can switch from one fuel to another (hydrogen or gasoline), and in its dual fuel mode, it has an ultimate cruising range of 435 miles—a crucial consideration when you're far from the nearest hydrogen fueling station.
With hydrogen as the default fuel mode, the Hydrogen 7 can cruise up 125 miles before needing to switch over to the gasoline backup. And while either fuel mode can be controlled manually, a No-Fault computer control system automatically switches from one mode to the other if one of the fuel tanks is depleted.
A Truly Clean Energy Future - A Complete Cycle
BMW envisions a clean energy strategy that is perfectly captured by the Hydrogen 7. By burning hydrogen that is produced from water and clean renewable energy, no aspect of this car creates polluting emissions. The car's tailpipe emissions (in hydrogen mode) are essentially nothing but water vapor. This sole by-product of combustion (water) returns the raw material that allows the electrolysis cycle to start anew. Re-extract hydrogen from the expelled water and start again. It's a clean circle of power—power without using fossil fuel resources and without impacting the planet's climate can become reality.
The Hydrogen Infrastructure Obstacle
The integration of hydrogen into the fuel supply faces many of the same obstacles that almost any progressive new technology encounters. It's a kind of chicken-and-egg thing. No one wants to buy the cars if they can't get fuel, and no one wants to build the fuel stations without enough cars to support them. BMW has bridged the gap.
Here's the beauty of it: While not completely dependent upon hydrogen, by default the Hydrogen 7 runs on hydrogen and encourages the infrastructure to be established. However, BMW ensures that by having the backup gasoline system, one can drive with confidence.
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