"Nine records marking the start into the hydrogen age. BMW technology has already come a long way. Now, together with politicians and the energy industry, we must turn our vision of sustained mobility into reality", said Professor BMW director Burkhard Göschel during the speed record trials in Miramas, the French high-speed proving grounds. According to BMW, the achievement means BMW has proven that hydrogen can replace conventional fuel without requiring the driver to make performance compromises.
The 6-litre 12-cylinder power unit developed an output of more than 210 kW or 285 bhp, accelerating the prototype to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds with a top speed of 302.4 km/h (185.52 mph). Based on the petrol power unit from its 760i, BMW's hydrogen combustion engine includes BMW's fully variable valve drive, Valvetronic.
The main modifications to the engine involve the fuel injection system adapted by BMW to the special features and requirements of hydrogen. The H2R car benefiting from the results gained in series development of BMW's future hydrogen engine for the world's first premium saloon built for dual-mode operation, said BMW. The production car will be a dual-mode version of the current 7 Series, which be launched "during the production cycle of the present model".
The H2R prototype set up the following records shown here in terms of times measured and speed achieved:
Flying-start kilometre (time in secs - speed in kph): 11.993 - 300.190
Flying-start mile: 19.912 - 290.962
Standing-start 1/8 mile: 9.921 - 72.997
Standing-start ¼ mile: 14.933 - 96.994
Standing-start ½ kilometre: 17.269 - 104.233
Standing-start mile: 36.725 - 157.757
Standing-start 10 miles: 221.052 - 262.094
Standing-start kilometre: 26.557 - 135.557
Standing-start 10 kilometres: 146.406 - 245.892
BMW works drivers Alfred Hilger, Jörg Weidinger and Günther Weber took turns at the wheel of the record car in their record-breaking session.
BMW's motive in setting up these records was not only to prove the power and performance the hydrogen engine is able to offer. Rather, the reliability and durability of the technology used clearly demonstrates the supremacy of BMW in developing the hydrogen engine to production standard.
In this process BMW said it is concentrating on the combustion engine because it still offers the largest number of advantages and benefits all in one. However, fuel storage is one of the biggest problems facing hydrogen car designers, and BMW did not mention how the fuel was -- or would be -- stored in this or production cars.
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