Mike Jung
09-12-2006, 09:35 PM
BMW to build first hydrogen-hybrid luxury car
Sep. 12, 2006. 12:54 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MUNICH — German automaker BMW AG said Tuesday it will introduce the world's first hydrogen-powered luxury performance car.
Know as the Hydrogen 7, the car will be built in a limited edition in Europe and will be sold to the U.S. market, the company said in a statement. It's equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on either hydrogen or gasoline and is based on BMW's 7 Series.
Hydrogen technology minimizes emissions of carbon dioxide. Running in the hydrogen mode, the Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but vapor, BMW said.
The car's engine is powered by a 260-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour [62 mph] in 9.5 seconds. The top speed is limited electronically to about 220 km/h [136 mph].
Other automakers, such as Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and Porsche AG have previously said they plan to develop hybrid engines.
French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen also wants to develop hybrid technology and may join forces with another company to share costs, Chairman and Chief Executive Jean-Martin Folz said last year.
Last year, Audi unveiled the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle from a European automaker at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a version of its Q7 sport-utility vehicle that will go on sale in 2008.
Toyota Motor Corp. remains the runaway leader in the field. The Japanese company was the first to begin mass-producing hybrids with its Prius in 1997.
Companies are developing different kinds of hybrids. But generally, a hybrid vehicle is powered either by an electric motor or by the combustion engine, or the systems can be used simultaneously.
Interesting...
I wonder how long the technology would take to filter down into an everyday type car.
Sep. 12, 2006. 12:54 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MUNICH — German automaker BMW AG said Tuesday it will introduce the world's first hydrogen-powered luxury performance car.
Know as the Hydrogen 7, the car will be built in a limited edition in Europe and will be sold to the U.S. market, the company said in a statement. It's equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on either hydrogen or gasoline and is based on BMW's 7 Series.
Hydrogen technology minimizes emissions of carbon dioxide. Running in the hydrogen mode, the Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but vapor, BMW said.
The car's engine is powered by a 260-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour [62 mph] in 9.5 seconds. The top speed is limited electronically to about 220 km/h [136 mph].
Other automakers, such as Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and Porsche AG have previously said they plan to develop hybrid engines.
French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen also wants to develop hybrid technology and may join forces with another company to share costs, Chairman and Chief Executive Jean-Martin Folz said last year.
Last year, Audi unveiled the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle from a European automaker at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a version of its Q7 sport-utility vehicle that will go on sale in 2008.
Toyota Motor Corp. remains the runaway leader in the field. The Japanese company was the first to begin mass-producing hybrids with its Prius in 1997.
Companies are developing different kinds of hybrids. But generally, a hybrid vehicle is powered either by an electric motor or by the combustion engine, or the systems can be used simultaneously.
Interesting...
I wonder how long the technology would take to filter down into an everyday type car.