BMW Planning Hydrogen Power for MINI?
Last week BMW’s Technik division celebrated its 25th anniversary with a slew of photos of the super secret division’s work. However one thing tucked away within the photos and information was a small piece on a very recent BMW test car that featured a Hydrogen fuel cell combined with a small petrol engine. Incredible technology no question. However we wonder how aggressive BMW will be with the development
BMW has traditionally spent quite a bit of money on Hydrogen research. In fact they even brought the Hydrogen 7 Series to market a few years back. However late last year they publicly said that future hydrogen development was being put on hold for fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
British magazine Autocar is theorizing that this could end up not only in a small future BMW for also in larger MINIs. Here’s an excerpt:
>The system combines a conventional front-drive powertrain along with a hydrogen fuel cell, electricity-storing supercapacitors and an electrically driven rear axle.
>BMW engineers have already built functioning prototypes based on 1-series hatchbacks converted to front-wheel drive.
>Company engineers say the “fuel cell hybrid technology†is designed to allow a vehicle to travel emissions-free in city centres, a feat beyond the ability of regular petrol-electric hybrids.
This drivetrain will fit into today’s Mini Clubman, making it likely that it could become an option for the front-wheel-drive BMW and Mini models that are at least four metres long.
According to Autocar BMW hasn’t given the go ahead for the system but once they do things could be ramped up rapidly. We’ll have more on this when we hear it.
<p>Great News. I’m all for green MINIs.</p>
<p>I should think most readers here will find this technically interesting.
However, unless the small engine and electric motors can produce a similar feel to any of the current MINI line-up (even the MINI-E) I for one wouldn’t be too fussed about this.
There are numerous financial incentives for using hydrogen (in the UK we’d pay no congestion charge in London, greatly reduced road tax, and possibly cheaper insurnace), but if MINI owners were just looking at the cost of ownership, we’d probably not be MINI owners in the first place! :-)</p>
<p>I am glad to hear that BMW has not given up it’s research using supercapacitors. It has the most potential for producing high performance vehicles. Low weight and a high rate of discharge to the drive wheels. A battery pack holds too much reserve which is never/rarely used. A small green power producing engine(hydrogen) to top off the capacitors when needed may be the ideal greenformance car.</p>
<p>I would still opt for a MINI D.</p>
<p>The answer is clear, the R53 will never be trumped</p>
<p>E gads… I sure hope this is only technology R&D. Hydrogen as a fuel is not a good idea now, nor for quite a while to come.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Why not call Dr. Emmett Brown and have him fit up a flux capacitor?? Top speed 88 MPH…</p>
<p>This sounds like BMW is exploring using a fuel cell much like a battery in a hybrid powertrain. If a hydrogen fuel cell ends up having weight and/or cost advantages over a battery, great. And perhaps BMW could give Fiat a call and ask to borrow their new two cylinder engine, which would feel right at home topping up a fuel cell.</p>