BMW Sets Speed Records with Hydrogen fuelled V12

Hydrogen propulsion moved from rockets to racers this week as BMW set nine new speed records for hydrogen powered automobiles. The record attempt was conducted at the high-speed Miramas Proving Grounds in France, where the 210kW hydrogen prototype proved BMW's point that hydrogen can replace conventional fuel without a performance compromise.

The H2R Record Car uses a six-litre 12 cylinder power unit and accelerates to 100 km/h in approximately 6 seconds with a top speed of 302.4 km/h (185,52 mph). Based on the 760i power unit, the main modifications involved the fuel injection system being adapted to the special requirements of hydrogen.

The testbed is helping in the development of a dual-mode BMW hydrogen-petrol engine for its premium saloon during the production cycle of the present model, thus introducing the first car of its kind able to run on both hydrogen and gasoline.

The H2R prototype set up a raft of speed records for the new class, from a standing-start quarter mile (14.933 seconds at 96.99 kmh) and a flying kilometre at 300.19 kmh.

BMW's motive in setting up these records was not only to prove the power and performance the hydrogen engine is able to offer.

Rather, the reliability and durability of the technology used clearly demonstrates the supremacy of BMW in developing the hydrogen engine to production standard.

In this process BMW is concentrating on the combustion engine, simply because the combustion power unit, given the sum total of all its features and characteristics, still offers the largest number of advantages and benefits all in one.

The BMW H2R Record Car was conceived, designed and developed by BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH, the legendary subsidiary of BMW AG.

The name "H2R" stands for "H two Race Car", "Hydrogen Record Car" or "Hydrogen Research Car".

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