Hydrogen technology offers the opportunity to dramatically reduce emissions generated by personal transport; particularly to minimise the emission of CO2. Running in the hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 basically emits nothing but vapor.

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. The BMW Group recognizes that finding alternatives to the consumption of fossil fuels limited in their availability is critical. Contrary to such conventional fuels, hydrogen meets the requirements of the future 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 an 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 flexibly adjusted to current conditions and requirements, ensuring maximum diversification and facilitating a gradual substitution of fossil fuels in the course of time.



Momentum for developing the right supply infrastructure: the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) and the cooperation with Total

In developing the technical components required for using hydrogen, the BMW Group cooperates closely with specialized 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) comprised of other car makers, energy supply companies, and public transport services.

CEP is part of Germany's national strategy of sustainability, 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 ever since 2004. In March 2006 Total opened another hydrogen filling station in the capital city of Germany - again as part of the CEP initiative.

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. Furthermore, the BMW Group and Total have agreed to open yet another integrated hydrogen filling station in another large city in Europe.

Benefiting from gained experience, 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 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 has been quick to assume responsibility for the promotion and introduction of sustained mobility concepts. Reflecting the Company's traditional core competence in drive train 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 world's first car maker 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.

previous page | go to page 3