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The great hydrogen debate has recently been spurred by the US Government's
commitment to spend money for research on hydrogen cars:
"With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will
overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, so
that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by
hydrogen, and pollution-free."
Hydrogen as a motor fuel is the answer to many environmental problems since
there are no harmful emissions, no depleting of resources, no danger to the
atmosphere, and it can be produced from a variety of renewable resources.
The BMW
solution is a Clean Energy system where liquid hydrogen is produced from water using solar power,
the hydrogen is dispensed from automated filling stations and it powers
modified BMW production vehicles.
Since the 70's,
BMW has been researching the future of mobility. Their first hydrogen car was
the BMW 750hL hydrogen powered vehicle.
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Information
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BMW H2R Record Car set nine hydrogen world speed
records at the Miramas high-speed Proving Grounds in France.
BMW
was a participant in the Clean Energy World Tour.
The focus of the Clean Energy World Tour was the lasting character of
the "production, distribution and utilization of hydrogen in automobiles"
process. The Tour visited cities around the world; Dubai, Brussels, Milan,
Tokyo and Los Angeles.
FAQ
on hydrogen infrastructure.
BMW's
Clean Energy strategy.
A hydrogen-powered MINI concept was unveiled at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. It runs solely
on hydrogen and shows the potential for a virtually zero emissions
vehicle which still offers outstanding performance in an affordable
package. MINI Home Page...
The
745h is the latest BMW hydrogen powered vehicle. The 745h is
powered by a 4.4-liter V8, featuring bi-VANOS variable valve timing, Valvetronic
variable intake runners, and a fully variable intake manifold. The 745h can use
either hydrogen or premium unleaded gasoline.
Running on
hydrogen, the 745h produces 184 horsepower and can achieve a top speed of 133
mph. The cruising range is 190 miles. Added to the 400-mile range of the normal
fuel tank, the 745h can go 600 miles between fill-ups.
An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) runs the 745h's power-consuming features. The APU
operates on a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell that is independent
of the engine, thanks to a direct hydrogen feed from the trunk-mounted tank.
This means power accessories like air conditioning can be operated when the
engine is shut off, saving a gallon of gas for every 235 miles of city driving.
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