Hydrogen, the IC engine, and the future

It may be the fuel of the future, but views vary about how hydrogen should be used.

BMW believes the internal combustion engine has enough potential for it to remain as the prime motive source for cars at least until the middle of the century and possibly beyond. Member of the BMW Board of Management for Research, Development and Purchasing, Klaus Draeger, takes an individual stance within the European automotive industry on the very-long-term future of the internal combustion engine. “We certainly see the hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine remaining in production for the forseeable future-at least up to 2040-using a fuel cell to power some onboard systems but not to drive the vehicle,” said Draeger. “As for the possible emergence then of electric vehicles, as a source of energy storage the battery would have to improve drastically compared to what we have today. It's possible but at the moment, I do not see it.”

For decades, BMW has stuck doggedly to its belief in the enduring efficacy of hydrogen-powered internal combustion (IC) engines for cars, and this year will see about 100 special hydrogen-fueled 7 Series (H7) examples built for selected users. The company's hydrogen research program started long before the current political and social pressure on the industry to reduce CO₂ levels, but it is now timely-provided the demanding question of efficient production of hydrogen and its dissemination through an economically viable and realistic infrastructure can be achieved.