BMW’S Hydrogen engines : The future of sustained mobility

Hydrogen internal combustion engines: The thrill and fun of a traditional ICE engine but having the CO2 emissions of an electric vehicle.

Introduction

As the world addresses the challenges of climate change and sustainability, car manufacturers are at the forefront in discovering alternatives to fossil fuels. Among the most promising solutions is hydrogen technology, which holds significant potential for sustainable vehicle energy. BMW, a trailblazer in automotive innovation, is actively developing and exploring hydrogen engines, reinforcing its commitment to a greener future.

The basics of hydrogen engines

Hydrogen engines operate on principle similar to that of conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) but with a significant difference regarding the type of fuel, the fuel used is hydrogen which is a clean and abundant element. There are two primary types of hydrogen engines, those with hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICE) and those with hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICE)

This system works on burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine similar to traditional gasoline engines .The primary byproduct being water vapor thus being an environmentally friendly alternative.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs)

FCEVs use a fuel cell for converting hydrogen into electricity that also powers an electric motor. From this process only emission is water vapor, making FCEVs a zero-emission vehicle option.

BMW has explored both technologies but has been showing interest particularly for the fuel cell technology, which aligns for BMW’s visions regarding sustainable and clean mobility.

BMW’s journey into hydrogen technologies

BMW’s hydrogen journey began in the early 2000s with the announcement of the BMW Hydrogen 7. It was the first luxury sedan to use hydrogen power. With a dual-fuel system, the Hydrogen 7 could run on both hydrogen and traditional gasoline.

In the Recent years BMW’s focus has shifted hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICE) to fuel cell technologies.

The BMW Hydrogen 7

BMW iX5

The BMW iX5 is a concept vehicle that is power by fuel cell technology, that isn’t yet avaible for purchase. The iX5 has 401 hp making it accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds. Despite the iX5 being a hydrogen vehicle it still maintains the same power and agility levels as other BMW’s

BMW iX5