BMW has been handing over their Hydrogen 7 sedan to several celebrities and other notables as part of a trial of the new technology out in the real world. The car is actually a hybrid of sorts that allows the owner to either use hydrogen or gasoline as the fuel of choice. This week, however, at the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit BMW showed off a pure hydrogen concept car that not only burns clean, but also emits fewer carbon monoxides than found in the air around it. From the article,
“This means the engine breaks down or converts the carbon monoxides it takes in. The emissions tests, run by Argonne Laboratories, also show a similar reduction in non-methane organic gasses. The vehicles other emissions are all so low that standard automobile emissions testing wouldn’t have detected them.”
How about that? Not only can you drink the waste water from this thing, but it will also make the air you breathe cleaner. Sounds like a must-have for any future inhabitant of Los Angeles.
BMW has no plans to market the hydrogen-only vehicle and will stick to the current H7 for future sales.
via Green Tech Blog
9 Comments
This isn’t like a hydrogen fuel cell. I don’t think you can drink the water from the combustion of hydrogen. It says there’s less carbon monoxide in the emissions than the surrounding air. That doesn’t mean the water is completely void of CO or any other harmful byproducts.
Well I wouldn’t drink water out of a combustion engine, but I like the whole idea. Much cleaner than gasoline anyway. The only real problem is it requires massive hydrogen production, which would be energy intensive but other than that I like it.
Ha, yes, you’re right — my mistake. I’m confusing my hydrogen technologies here. You probably would not want to drink any of the water vapor coming out of a combustion hydrogen vehicle. With a fuel cell, however, you could get away with it — similar to the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle or the Chevy Equinox.
Hey thanks for the great blog, I love this stuff. This year I am trying to do my part for Earth Day and I’m looking to find some easy, simple things I can do to help stop global warming (I don’t plan on buying a hybrid).
Has anyone seen that http://www.EarthLab.com is promoting their Earth Day (month) challenge, with the goal to get 1 million people to take their carbon footprint test in April? I took the test, it was easy and only took me about 2 minutes and I am planning on lowering my score with some of their tips.
I am looking for more easy fun stuff to do. If you know of any other sites worth my time let me know.
Finally, they have announced it! Germany also plans to produce all hydrogen by renewable energy sources. I think, that they’d had enough blackmailing by oil/gas supply and prices…(it’s about time, isn’t it?)
“Be Green”
BG Automotive Group has a car that will travel 80-100 miles per charge for $15,995.
Finally a car that most Americans can afford.
Did you know that 80% of all drivers, drive less than 50 miles per day? This new car will cost an equivalent of $0.20-0.25 cents/gallon (depending on electricity rates in your area).
http://www.BGelectricCars.com
info@BGelectricCars.com
BeGreen
America needs to stay FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED.
Focus:
History reminds us that every time oil prices peak and the North American market/consumers start to discuss alternative energy sources, the oil exporting countries start to trim down their prices. History also tells us that the oil exporting nations have been very successful in the past and in fact, we have lost our enthusiasm and dropped many of our alternative energy initiatives after oil prices are reduced.
WE need to stay focused this time.
1) Al Gore and his energy initiative is on course.
2) T. Boone Pickens and his wind power initiative is on course.
3) The BG Automotive Group mass production electric vehicle program is on
course along with renewable solar energy charging option.
4) Richard Branson from the UK is on course w/his environmental programs..
5) The Gas Reduction Act of 2008 might not be the most environmentally sound
solution, but yet it shows that Congress has finally realized that we have an
energy crisis (again), and a real threat to our national security.
The continued dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our long term democratic values. We must become an energy independent nation, and with this, some sacrifices will have to be made by the American consumer.
Be aware!!
We are exporting approximately USD $700 Billion dollars per year of U.S. currency. The majority of this money is being transferred to the Trillion dollar “sovereign wealth funds”. This is USD $700 Billion not being spent on America’s educational system, health care and security.
The “sovereign wealth funds” are directly buying major interests (large blocks of stock) in U.S. companies, including most of the major banks. Also, billions of dollars of “sovereign wealth fund” money is being invested in our hedge funds, private equity firms, and the investment banking industry. A few of these firms are directly and indirectly investing large sums of money into our “gas combustion” automobile industry. Do we want our auto industry in the direct or indirect control of the firms that are supplying us oil? This is an interesting topic for an investigative reporter.
There are automotive consulting companies in Michigan (heart of our auto industry), lobbying States and our Federal Government, NOT to subsidize the Electric Vehicle industry. The latter seems to be contradictory to what the American public would like to see from our automobile industry. After the billions (excess of $20 billion) the automotive companies have lost in the past 6 months producing gas combustion vehicles, you would think they too would change course. Changing course is not adding 2-4 miles per gallon w/Hybrids. Drastic measures in our auto industry must take place and NOW!
Do not let the temporary reduction in oil prices push us off course….AGAIN.
Educated:
Read, Read- Stay on top of the issues. Let’s not be fooled again.
STAY FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED!
I’m STILL waiting to see an electric car that meets my needs show up at a nearby dealer. The BG electric is listed at 25mhp max speed. That won’t do. The Th!nk City car will do the job, but at what cost, and when will it be available in the Midwest? Meanwhile, I’m putting up solar panels. I’m not waiting for the car makers, or the government, but I can’t do it alone……
The waiting game is challenging and the EV that will meet your needs (which I’m presuming is basic reliable transportation with few frills)is coming…but not for a couple of years. Luckily major auto manufacturers like Nissan, GM, and Toyota have promised EVs and PHEVs by 2010. Until then…
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