BMW Prototype with Hydrogen Fuel Cell

BMW has created a FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) hydrogen powered vehicle to test out new technologies. Hydrogen powered vehicles are necessary for the future as the resources for fossil fuel runs out. This FCEV vehicle based on a BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo was tested by BMW Blog on a race track in Miramas, France. It uses a 245hp electric motor and high-voltage battery, similar to the ones used in BMW’s eDrive and i Division plug-in hybrids. A tunnel tank, used to store hydrogen, is mounted in between the two axles. BMW uses a 700 bar CGH2 storage vessel or a 350 bar BMW patented cryogenic pressure storage vessel. The cryogenic tank allows BMW to store gaseous hydrogen at low temperatures at 350 bar pressure, with an operating range of 500km (310 miles), giving a smaller tank similar range to a gasoline powered vehicle. Much of these technologies are results of the continued partnership between BMW and Toyota.