BMW continues Hydrogen 7 PR onslaught: dual-fuel car now with EU Parliament President
Pretty soon, we're going to have to list the people who aren't driving a BMW Hydrogen 7. BMW is offering the car to celebrities, average citizens and politicians the world over. Some of us get to drive it around the block, others get to keep it for a week or two. The latest to be handed the keys is EU Parliamentary president Hans-Gert Pöttering (pictured), who stepped into the car yesterday in Strasburg. BMW says (after the jump) that this move was "In line with the European Parliament's efforts to take measures to reduce its own CO2 emissions." Pöttering will use the car for work-related trips. For his part, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of BMW AG, said the Hydrogen 7 "shows that we have initial solutions and are on the right track" and that for "regeneratively produced hydrogen has the most potential to secure our mobility in the future." Potential, always with the potential.
Press Release:
BMW PRESENTS HYDROGEN 7 TO EU PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT
04/23/2008
Strasburg. During his visit to the European Parliament in Strasburg on 23 April 2008, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of BMW AG, presented the first series hydrogen saloon in the premium segment to the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering.
In line with the European Parliament's efforts to take measures to reduce its own CO2 emissions, President Pöttering agreed to receive this car for institutional use for a limited trial period.
During the presentation, Dr. Norbert Reithofer said: "Our goal is sustained mobility. We can only make this possible together with the help of politicians and under reliable conditions. The Hydrogen 7 shows that we have initial solutions and are on the right track. We are convinced that regeneratively produced hydrogen has the most potential to secure our mobility in the future. We are both delighted and proud, President Pöttering, that we have managed to make this mobility concept reality today."
The BMW Group is one of the leading companies in the international automobile industry that is committed to sustained mobility. Already today, BMW is demonstrating its responsibility by the introduction of EfficientDynamics measures in the current model range. It is expected that 700,000 BMW vehicles with EfficientDynamic measures will be sold this year in Europe alone. The fuel saving of all new BMW vehicles sold in Europe compared to 2006 will be around 150 million litres. In terms of CO2, this means a saving of 373,000 tonnes.
At the same time, BMW has for more than two decades consistently focused on advancing hydrogen technology. In the long-term, hydrogen is to replace petrol as a fuel. Since 2007, the BMW Hydrogen 7 has been presented to selected representatives from Lifestyle, Politics and Industry. A small series of 100 vehicles has initially been produced. The BMW Hydrogen 7 combines the total integration of hydrogen technology with BMW typical driving dynamics, smooth running and comfort features.
[Source: BMW]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
A.Brien 8:50PM (4/24/2008)
Quote: 'We are convinced that regeneratively produced hydrogen has the most potential to secure our mobility in the future. '
Everything is there in that quote, in other words it mean that the next step is to find a cheap way to produce hydrogen gas. The only way to produce it regeneratively is with water electrolysis because you don't consume water, you just change it's state for a little while then it return to water after it's used to power the car. So it's regenerative for the next millions years ahead. Each car manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in hydrogen car developements but no money have been spend to find a method of producing cheap hydrogen at a refueling station. If they explore it a little bit then they can save millions because their race to put these cars on the market are halt and it take hydrogen stations to start the sales of these hydrogen cars. If they were intelligent ( which it's not the case ) they can take the money consumers spend on gas and diesel and take it for their products . If the fuel become less expensive then the consumer can spend much for the car big or not and forget nightmares like carbon footprint, co2 emissions, engine downsizing, exhaust after treatment, low rolling resistance tires, fuel crops, petrol imports, co2 capture and sequestration, hybrid , irak, nuclear, deforestration, neighborhood vehicule, smog, battery charging time and lifespand and recycling and/or disposal.
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steven 9:46AM (4/25/2008)
I think your list of who's not driving the H7 can start with this clown. It appears he's only riding in it. In the lower picture, (in the words of Judge Smails) you can see the steering wheel is clearly on the left side of the car where it belongs.
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vitor soares 6:28AM (4/28/2008)
Bla-bla-bla-bla and bla-bla. While the big oil companies continue exploiting and speculating around the oil with connivance of several governments the citizens can’t find on the market a true answer for the environment and wealth to the imediate future.
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bdeflaviis 12:20PM (4/25/2008)
Hydrogen ICE's = the most efficient way to waste perfectly good hydrogen.
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Chris M 2:30AM (4/26/2008)
I keep wondering how many of these celebrities and politicians are going to realize how terribly impractical hydrogen is as an internal combustion engine fuel.
One would think it would be obvious, with the BMW Hydrogen 7 getting a mere 120 miles per 30 gallon tank of expensive liquid H2 fuel, and that 30 gallon tank filling up the trunk, but some celebs and pols are rather obtuse. It doesn't help when they never have to worry about the cost of filling up, and have a chauffer to take care of those little details like fill-ups and stashing luggage.
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