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I've been wanting to buy one of the BMW gasoline/hydrogen cars for years, and you can't. Cars like this seem (to me) to be the real solution to the gas issue, but they aren't available to the public. http://www.bmwworld.com/hydrogen/stragegy.htm (For those that won't read the article, the engine runs on gas and hydrogen. There's a solar cell on the roof, and the car will convert water into hydrogen and store it for you.)

BMW is also involved in an air powered vehicle. This technology is based on pressure differentials, not combustion. It is a clean process that uses an abundant power source.

with hydrogen cars -- they demoed a H2-powered 7 series back in 2000.

The last thing we need is a phone that takes both hands to operate.

In California, using a non-hands-free phone while driving becomes a moving violation in mid-2008. Washington State is doing this too. (That was enacted right after a 5-car collision caused by a Blackberry user.) I've had my truck rear-ended twice by people on cell phones. One said to the cop, afterwards, "I was just finishing my call". Had a near miss two weeks ago; someone pulling out of a parking space on a busy street was using a phone, so they couldn't turn the wheel fast enough and drove across two lanes of traffic before straightening out.

Remember the iDrive, from BMW? That was a disaster, hated by many owners. Too much "head down" time, looking at the display instead of the road.

The future is hands-free, not two-handed.

In 1991 BMW started using variable intake valves. Now both intake and exhaust valves are variably controlled via the DME (brain). You don't even have a throttle in the normal sense, just different valve timing controlled by the computer. http://www.bmwworld.com/technology/vanos.htm

Yup. BMW has had this in the USA since the 2003 7 series. The technology is called Valvetronic http://www.bmwworld.com/technology/valvetronic.htm & http://www.bmwusa.com/Vehicles/X5/48is/HighlightDe tail.htm

"In the Z4 2.5i with manual shift, this unit delivers 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 sec. and achieves the amazing top speed of 146 mph. Its projected EPA mileage ratings are impressive too: 21-mpg city/28-mpg highway with the optional automatic transmission, 20/28 with the 5-speed manual." - http://www.bmwworld.com/models/z4/engines.htm

"The top speed of 111mph is achieved courtesy of the 96bhp developed by this power unit. This too is better than most other 1.4-litre engines in this sector that typically average 75 to 80bhp." - http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-drivi ng/kia-rio-1.4-16v-range-1004915.html

Um, who cares? In the US, the max speed limit you're likely to find (AFAIR) is 85mph; Kia's can go 85 as well. Then you start throwing in other stats, which are irrelevent as well. An internet connection has exactly two features anyone cares about; reliablity and speed. Well three, if you count price.

Just because your speed is limited by laws in your locality has nothing to do with the capabilities of the technology, any nerd should know that.

This is why your analogy sucks; ALL cars are restricted to maxium speeds by law, so that fact that it COULD go faster is more or less irrelevent.

And again, I'll say that a BMW is a more reliable vehicle than a Kia any day, this is a personal bias but I'd like to see you prove me wrong with details regarding the lifespans of vehicles from both manufacturers.

People that I know whom own BMW's don't tell you how reliable they are. Honda and Acura owners will. BMW's have alot of known problems, some of which they know about and haven't (last I heard) fixed. Such as the power window motors burning out after 2-3 years on the 3 series. At any rate if you really wish to compare, just go to Edmunds and research yourself.

I say my analogy stands, and you're just a troll.

I say your analogy blows, because cars aren't really that similar at all to an network of computers. You may think I'm a troll if you wish, but troll's don't usually have Excellent karma (I know, you can't check unless you pay for /.).

How do you figure?

"In the Z4 2.5i with manual shift, this unit delivers 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 sec. and achieves the amazing top speed of 146 mph. Its projected EPA mileage ratings are impressive too: 21-mpg city/28-mpg highway with the optional automatic transmission, 20/28 with the 5-speed manual." - http://www.bmwworld.com/models/z4/engines.htm

"The top speed of 111mph is achieved courtesy of the 96bhp developed by this power unit. This too is better than most other 1.4-litre engines in this sector that typically average 75 to 80bhp." - http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-drivi ng/kia-rio-1.4-16v-range-1004915.html

Just because your speed is limited by laws in your locality has nothing to do with the capabilities of the technology, any nerd should know that.

And again, I'll say that a BMW is a more reliable vehicle than a Kia any day, this is a personal bias but I'd like to see you prove me wrong with details regarding the lifespans of vehicles from both manufacturers.

I say my analogy stands, and you're just a troll.

BMW has been doing research on hydrogen powersince the 1970s, and they even have a nice 7-series sedan ready to drive.

Does BMW win anything for its ingenuity?

BMW has been doing research on hydrogen powersince the 1970s, and they even have a nice 7-series sedan ready to drive.

Does BMW win anything for its ingenuity?

Over 25 preinstalled and aftermarket devices from 13 world-class automakers and suppliers including Acura, BMW, Citroën, Clarion Co. Ltd., DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, NexTech, Toyota, and Volvo are currently running on the Windows Automotive platform.

BMW has the ability to make Hydrogen-powered production cars, it is a shame that they have not caught on yet.
Current fuels will eventually go the way of the steam engine, or wait, maybe not the steam.

Interesting site: http://www.bmwworld.com/hydrogen/

Not quite. BMW has been researching and promoting hydrogen cars for some time now. They installed a hydrogen refilling station in Munich in '99(IIRC) and more are on the way, some in the US. The interesting thing about the BMW hydrogen car is that it can burn either hydrogen or gasoline so you can burn hydrogen when its available but not be hampered by the current dearth of hydrogen stations. As for the source of the hydrogen, Electricity generated from solar power is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. . The range on the 750H is only 400 km right now. The other trade-off of course is that there is still combustion so it's not as clean as fuel cell cars. Nonetheless, it's a start and not a bad way to transition us into a hydrogen economy.

Not quite. BMW has been researching and promoting hydrogen cars for some time now. They installed a hydrogen refilling station in Munich in '99(IIRC) and more are on the way, some in the US. The interesting thing about the BMW hydrogen car is that it can burn either hydrogen or gasoline so you can burn hydrogen when its available but not be hampered by the current dearth of hydrogen stations. As for the source of the hydrogen, Electricity generated from solar power is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. . The range on the 750H is only 400 km right now. The other trade-off of course is that there is still combustion so it's not as clean as fuel cell cars. Nonetheless, it's a start and not a bad way to transition us into a hydrogen economy.

BMW and others offer engines and conversion packages to make dual-fuel vehicles using internal combustion engines that work on both hydrogen and gasoline. The fuel cell vehicle has the potential to be more energy efficient, but over the next few decades, if hydrogen catches on, I think the vast majority of hydrogen-technology users will NOT be using expensive and new fuel-cell technology. They'll be using fairly normal cars (maybe even the cars they have now) with dual-fuel engines that don't require any more platinum than they do now (and if the hydrogen infrastructure grows to the extent that we can stop burning gasoline, they won't need any at all -- no more pesky catalytic converters). In the very long run, if America can finally get off the idea of having a separate car for every individual on the road, we will solve both the fuels problem and the platinum-availability problem. I don't see platinum as a limiting factor at all.

What BMW is doing with hydrogen can be found here: http://www.bmwworld.com/hydrogen/hybrid.htm:

BMW plans to offer a car that runs on both petrol and hydrogen within the next four years.

BMW chief executive Helmut Panke said he would include a hybrid 7-Series car in the company's catalogue soon.

"By the time we have those cars, we will probably have a number of hydrogen fuel stations at our retail centres" in the United States, he said. He said there were only a few hydrogen fuel stations in the US at present.

BMW has already driven a test fleet of hydrogen-powered cars through several countries. As petrol prices push higher, the prospect of alternative fuels has become more popular among some drivers.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to build hydrogen fuelling stations every 32 kilometres along major California highways.
...

I like the sentence about Arnies promise to plaster the highways with hydrogen fuelling stations every 32 kilometers :-)

"Hydrogen is a Boondoggle. The energy density is so low, that we might as well use batteries if we're going to power vehicles with it." -StCredZero

The 745h is the latest BMW hydrogen powered vehicle. The 745h is powered by a 4.4-liter V8, featuring bi-VANOS variable valve timing, Valvetronic variable intake runners, and a fully variable intake manifold. The 745h can use either hydrogen or premium unleaded gasoline.

Running on hydrogen, the 745h produces 184 horsepower and can achieve a top speed of 133 mph. The cruising range is 190 miles. Added to the 400-mile range of the normal fuel tank, the 745h can go 600 miles between fill-ups.

BMW make a dual-fuel 750iL which runs on either hydrogen or petrol. Apparently you can go and buy one in Germany but the only Hydrogen station is in Munich(?) (http://www.bmwworld.com/models/745h.htm or google for more details.)

Before anybody gets stressed about the potential for explosion, the H2 is stored as a liquid at atmospheric pressure in a container that is very, very well insulated to keep it cool. Something like the equivalent of 12 feet of styrofoam IIRC.

IMHO this is the way of the future. It's a real internal combustion engine so you can REV it. Yeah! Also it is compatible with regular gasoline for the short term, its only emissions are water (and a bit of NOx I guess) and there are no stupid, expensive, toxic fuelcell catalysts to replace.

This process sounds a lot like the BMW 750hL, which does basically the same thing: uses solar panels on the roof to suck in water vapour, split it into hydrogen and oxygen, supercool the hydrogen and store that to power the engine.

The BMW, however, also has a gas engine, making it a Hydrogen-gas hybrid.

Hydrogen [...] needs a dense concentration to ignite

This is too bad inaccurate. The only serious point where hydrogen is less safe than gasoline is the flammable and explosive limits (see e.g. here). While you need a spark to start a gasoline fire, a air-hydrogen mixture can start burning only because of environmental static electricity (i.e. a windy day).

...even a hydrogen fuel cell

Not sure it is relevant, BMW are committed to using internal-combustion engines with hydrogen. This may not be efficient as fuel cells, but is definitely cheaper from the point of view of who buys the engine. Furthermore, BMW have already manufactured some 11 models of a series 7 running on both hydrogen and gasoline, with 150 kW of power.

Well, I used to drive a '72 2002, but it was in very poor shape. Now I have a '74 3.0 CS. In looks what a candy iMac was to a Dell. Any chance the 2002 harness will work in the bigger car? Can't buy proper gas for it, but it is a 12 volt system, so that should work. The only thing digital is the clock. It used to be analog, but the only way it moves now is when your fingers turn the little knob.

Well, I used to drive a '72 2002, but it was in very poor shape. Now I have a '74 3.0 CS. In looks what a candy iMac was to a Dell. Any chance the 2002 harness will work in the bigger car? Can't buy proper gas for it, but it is a 12 volt system, so that should work. The only thing digital is the clock. It used to be analog, but the only way it moves now is when your fingers turn the little knob.

If its so good, why are they stopping the production?

Old-School

The next really REALLY cool tech you'll see is a camless motor. Lotus has done a LOT of research on solenoid actuated valves.

...this is more blue sky technology...

BMW think you do. Their iDrive system, although it sounds like it's a Mac app, is a Windows CE in-car computer system controlling all aspects of the vehicle.

This guy has effectively implimented his own version, from scratch, even down to replicating the rotary dial controller using a Griffin PowerMate - his achievement in doing so is brilliant. I wonder if any auto-makers are taking a look at this.

Folks, I think this story is not mainly about building yet another scooter. Look at what the hydrogen engineers in the automobile industry have come up with so far. Take Mercedes Benz and BMW, they have built comparively large cars and just a few years ago the smallest vehicle they could equip with a hydrogen engine were transporter size. Now this inventor shows (not just proposes!) he actually shows us what can be done. Sure, there are some problems which remain to be solved, but that scooter is no claim for perfection. You cannot ride that thing at 100mph on a motorway and you might not be able to ride for days without a refill, but that is not what is is about. Look at it, there is no spacey fuel tank which fills the entire trunk of your car and there is no refuelling which takes hours at specialised gas stations. That scooter is about technical possibilities and about making things happen instead of talking about what should be done in a better world.

In fact BMW do sell their engines to other motor companies. The Morgan Aero 8 is one left-field example but they also supply the diesel V8 to LandRover and strangely a petrol V8 to VW owned Bentley for the Arnage.

The BMW Clean Energy system involves liquid hydrogen produced from water using solar power. Hydrogen as a motor fuel is the answer to many environmental problems since there are no harmful emissions, no depleting of resources, and no danger to the atmosphere.

Well BMW seems to have the anwser to that with this little known release.

It supposed to be as fast as the normal 750 with the same range too. However the only hyrdogen gas station is in Germany at the moment.

Pushbutton gear-shifting, joystick steering, semi-automatic transmissions - they've been tried, and they failed.

<voice style="Jon Stewart">Whaa?</voice>

Pushbutton gear-shifting is the preferred method of gear-shifting in most all forms of racing. Throwing a gear stick around is just too inefficient, especially when you only have a limited amount of cockpit space as in some racers (others have much more cockpit room, like rally cars, but even they tend to prefer a "pushbutton"-ish shifting interface rather than a gear stick). As for "semi-automatic transmissions", I guess Porsche, Audi, etc didn't know that this has been tried and failed, since they still sell their Tiptronic/Multitronic drive systems, and they're actually quite popular (and work very well, though I'm the type that still prefers the manual shifter). BMW's SMG is also a pretty slick system.

There are plenty of other "tried and failed" automotive ideas that are still being used. Take the previously mentioned Multitronic system from Audi, for example. It's just a continuously variable transmission, which has been done several times before, but Audi has made advances with the technology and so the Multitronic CVT system is much better than previous implementations by other manufacturers.

Just because Ford, GM, or Chrysler don't do it or tried and failed doesn't mean it's not being done and done successfully by other, arguably better automobile manufacturers.

Looks like science can be profitable and fun after all.