BMW Hydrogen Powered Car Breaks Speed Records

BMW H2R Sets Nine Hydrogen World Speed Records

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J, Sept. 20 -- BMW's Clean Energy program produced a formidable winner this weekend. The BMW H2R set nine international speed records for internal combustion powered vehicles using hydrogen as a fuel at the Miramas high-speed Proving Grounds in France. BMW has thus proven its conviction that hydrogen is able to replace conventional fuel without any compromises in terms of performance and emissions.

"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," stated Professor Burk hard Goschel, Board Member of the BMW Group, during the speed re cord trials in Miramas.

BMW remains committed to launching a dual-fuel version of the cur rent 7 Series during the production cycle of the present model, which will be the world's first premium sedan built for dual-fuel operation, thus introducing the first car of its kind able to run on both hydrogen and gasoline.

The H2R Record Car, using a version of BMW's proven 12-cylinder 6-liter power plant, currently available in the 760i and 760Li Sedans, develops 232- horsepower using liquid hydrogen fuel. This translates into a 0 - 60 mph acceleration in under 6 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph.

The main modifications to the 760i engine involve adapting the fuel injection system to the special features and requirements of hydrogen fuel. Intake valves were enlarged, valve seat rings were modified, special hydrogen- specific injection valves were used and relocated to the intake manifold instead of the combustion chamber. Finally several engine management changes were made to tune the engine to hydrogen's unique combustion characteristics.

The BMW H2R Record Car was conceived and developed by BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH, a subsidiary of BMW AG. The expressive, purposeful exterior design was created by DesignworksUSA, the California-based strategic design consultancy owned by BMW Group. "We had just 10 months to develop the H2R prototype", stated Jürgen Kübler, the H2R Project Manager. But the creative engineers at BMW Forschung und Technik are used to impossible deadlines.

  The following records were set in Miramar:
                                       Time in sec.        Speed in km/h
   Flying-start kilometer                 11.993               300.190
   Flying-start mile                      19.912               290.962
   Standing-start 1/8 mile                 9.921                72.997
   Standing-start 1/4 mile                14.933                96.994
   Standing-start 1/2 kilometer           17.269               104.233
   Standing-start mile                    36.725               157.757
   Standing-start 10-miles               221.052               262.094
   Standing-start kilometer               26.557               135.557
   Standing-start 10-kilometers          146.406               245.892