H2GO!

By Ron Cogan

In the quest for environmental leadership, theres often a delicate balancing act as designers strive to create cars that are environmentally positive, yet offer the features drivers most desire. Clearly, core values must remain in focus during the process to retain the values and identity that distinguish carmakers from their peers.

V-10 hydrogen engine undergoes dyno testing

This has been BMWs mission over the past decade as it has pursued hydrogen cars and the performance to go with them. You cant, after all, lay claim to the title ultimate driving machine if your zero-to-sixty times are glacial and you slog through corners, even if powered by clean-burning hydrogen.

For years, BMW has been refining the liquid hydrogen fueled sedans that it has placed in field trials on multiple continents, championing the use of hydrogen in conventional engines in lieu of the more popular fuel cell. These hydrogen vehicles have improved over the years, making the most of renewable hydrogen fuel in their internal combustion powerplants. Now, this automaker is putting its stamp on the hydrogen record book with adaptations of this hydrogen engine technology, fielding a land speed record car that has passed the 185 mph mark and claimed an additional eight records as well. Along the way it has achieved recognition by the Federation Internationale de lAutomobile as the fastest hydrogen car in the world.

H2R is imposing from any angle

Carbon fiber body is by DesignworksUSA

A distinction achieved at the high-speed Miramas Proving Grounds in France, BMWs 285 horsepower H2R hydrogen car was propelled to 100 km/h in about 6 seconds, setting records in the flying-start kilometer; standing-start 1/2 kilometer, kilometer, and 10 kilometers; flying-start mile; and standing start 1/8 mile, 1/4 mile, mile, and 10 miles. The record car was piloted by BMW works drivers Alfred Hilger, Jrg Weidinger, and Gnther Weber, who took turns at the wheel of the H2R during their record-breaking session.

The sleek and imposing car was conceived, designed, and developed by the automakers subsidiary, BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH. Its carbon fiber exterior was designed by DesignworksUSA, the California-based strategic design consultancy owned by BMW Group. This is the same design house that worked on the BMW E1 and E2 electric car prototypes in the early 1990s.

BMW hydrogen 7 Series at fueling station

BMW's high-tech hydrogen engine

This BMW is motivated by a 6.0-liter V-12 engine modified to run on hydrogen, a gasoline powerplant normally found in the automaker?s 760i model. Among the engine modifications is a fuel injection system adapted to handle hydrogen, which uses injection valves integrated into the intake manifolds. Special materials are also used for the combustion chambers. Liquid hydrogen is carried in a vacuum-insulated, double-wall tank that?s fitted next to the drivers seat.

Is the H2R just a whimsical exercise? Nope, its part of a larger vision. In fact, BMW plans to launch a dual-fuel 7 Series that will run on hydrogen or gasoline, sometime during the production cycle of the present model, surely at a price far lower than that of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Exercises like the H2R help pave the way.