BMW's Brand New First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Prototype Car

MANILA: It is hydrogen powered future! And we have a reason for saying this, as all the big car makers are constantly rubbing their brains to come up with cars that run on hydrogen. Maybe this is the need of next hour as with time when other sources are depleting, hydrogen can be the one which can keep our cars running.

So, after Toyota, Honda, and Nissan who have already made effort in this direction, here comes the next icon brand, the German makers, BMW which will also test their hydrogen-powered vehicle on public roads this month. After offering battery-powered i3 in 2013, this is a very clean and wise strategy of BMW. Further this brand is also getting cooperation of Toyota Motors, a major proponent of hydrogen technology in developing various other vehicles based on this technology.

It comes up with a matte black, two-seat sports car that has a lot of resemblance to the i8 and runs at 125 mph plus of speed. Although, it lacks the sophistication of an i8 but its front reflects a lot of freshness in styling. This early prototype is built on the architecture of i8 plug-in hybrid and is powered by 272-hp powertrain. The passenger compartment has borrowed a lot of i8 components but the space which is meant for rear seats is now taken up by hydrogen-electric powertrain.

The company plans "a technically mature, customer-ready vehicle sometime after 2020," Matthias Klietz, head of powertrain research, told journalists at BMW's test track in Miramas, France. "By around 2025 to 2030, we expect fuel cell cars to have an established presence, but there are challenges that remain, like building the refuelling infrastructure."

"Technically, we're ready to put fuel-cell cars on the road, but so far it remains too expensive," said Axel Ruecker, who's part of the hydrogen development team at Munich-based BMW. "Making fuel-cell technology a reality is a task not just for carmakers, but for the whole of society."