A simple technology
The Hydrogen 7 uses liquid hydrogen injected directly into a tank taking up over half of the trunk space. Again, in a car dedicated solely to hydrogen fuel, the tank would be integrated into the chassis, thus limiting the loss of space.
The hydrogen is cooled to -253°C and injected into the tank. Il will then pass through a small pipe where it will be heated and transform into gas. This gas is later injected into the cylinder, where it will produce the combustion.
It sounds simple, but the technology behind it is actually quite complex. The simple stocking of hydrogen in the car, for example, is extremely challenging, and choices had to be made concerning the conservation method.
Same thing for the safety systems used to detect leaks (a flashing light is inserted into the door, for example, immediately alerting passengers and driver of the presence of gas inside the car) and the pressure monitoring systems.
Refueling made tricky
Refueling is another significant detail. BMW had to work with other companies to develop a hose system that hermetically attaches to the car in order to ensure risk-free refueling. A completely empty tank takes around eight minutes to fill up, but it's a rather complicated process: manual securing of the hose, automatic system check, flushing and cooling of the pipes and finally the refueling proper.
"The pumps will be equipped with an automatic system once the car is marketed on a comprehensive scale," said engineer Alvaro Sousa. It must be said that currently no such infrastructures exist.
Once the car is refueled and the engine started, only steam can be seen to emerge from the exhaust pipe, which, according to recent analysis, is actually purer than Los Angeles water.
"For the moment, these are just prototypes that we use for marketing purposes. We've even had international stars like Brad Pitt sit inside in order to emphasize the importance of this technology, and we will be touring North America in the upcoming months. BMW is convinced that hydrogen is the fuel of the future, and we have the tools to prove it," concluded Jason Perron.
photo:Marc Bouchard
The Hydrogen 7 uses liquid hydrogen injected directly into a tank taking up over half of the trunk space. Again, in a car dedicated solely to hydrogen fuel, the tank would be integrated into the chassis, thus limiting the loss of space.
The hydrogen is cooled to -253°C and injected into the tank. Il will then pass through a small pipe where it will be heated and transform into gas. This gas is later injected into the cylinder, where it will produce the combustion.
It sounds simple, but the technology behind it is actually quite complex. The simple stocking of hydrogen in the car, for example, is extremely challenging, and choices had to be made concerning the conservation method.
Same thing for the safety systems used to detect leaks (a flashing light is inserted into the door, for example, immediately alerting passengers and driver of the presence of gas inside the car) and the pressure monitoring systems.
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| The hydrogen is cooled to -253°C and injected into the tank. |
Refueling made tricky
Refueling is another significant detail. BMW had to work with other companies to develop a hose system that hermetically attaches to the car in order to ensure risk-free refueling. A completely empty tank takes around eight minutes to fill up, but it's a rather complicated process: manual securing of the hose, automatic system check, flushing and cooling of the pipes and finally the refueling proper.
"The pumps will be equipped with an automatic system once the car is marketed on a comprehensive scale," said engineer Alvaro Sousa. It must be said that currently no such infrastructures exist.
Once the car is refueled and the engine started, only steam can be seen to emerge from the exhaust pipe, which, according to recent analysis, is actually purer than Los Angeles water.
"For the moment, these are just prototypes that we use for marketing purposes. We've even had international stars like Brad Pitt sit inside in order to emphasize the importance of this technology, and we will be touring North America in the upcoming months. BMW is convinced that hydrogen is the fuel of the future, and we have the tools to prove it," concluded Jason Perron.
photo:Marc Bouchard
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