Confirmed: FWD Hydrogen Hybrid 1-series concept in the works

[Jason]

Remember these spyshots? Looks like the photos were of a FWD hydrogen hybrid 1-series test car afterall, according to autoblog.nl. The 1-series hydrogen hybrid concept is powered by a 120hp 4 cylinder gas engine, hydrogen fuel, cell, electric motor, FWD and RWD!. The car operates on FWD on longer trips and RWD on shorter trips (RWD powered by electric motor). The fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, which recharges the batteries. The energy generated from braking will also be converted to electricity and stored for use.

The hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor will power the hydrogen 1-series in local city driving and the 4-cylinder gas engine will provide assistance for longer trips.

[jeremyc74]

Hydrogen? WTF are they thinking?! It's a complete waste of time until someone figures out a way to generate it that makes sense. I can't believe anyone running a major automaker is still following this pipe dream.

[CarForHire]

[uhn2000]

I love the fact that its stick! Hehe..

[blacknbean]

do not want

[AllydNYC]

:b arf::bar f: :b arf::bar f::b arf::bar f: :b arf:

[Oulixes]

If Occam saw the car, he would laugh.

[MidwestBimmerFan]

I cant even think or imagine a front wheel drive BMW. This would be pure insanity. Maybe the world is coming to an end!

[CarForHire]

The 3 series is getting bigger and the 1 series is starting to become FWD... I hope the E82/88 doesn't get FWD. What will we have left?

[richsnuc]

I'll buy the hybrid powertrain, but this isn't hydrogen-powered like the rest of their cars. I don't know how long (or far) an internal combustion engine will run on gaseous hydrogen, but I'd hate to get rear-ended with a big ol' pressurized tank of hydrogen gas behind me...

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by richsnuc

I'll buy the hybrid powertrain, but this isn't hydrogen-powered like the rest of their cars. I don't know how long (or far) an internal combustion engine will run on gaseous hydrogen, but I'd hate to get rear-ended with a big ol' pressurized tank of hydrogen gas behind me...

The gasoline engine does NOT run on hydrogen.

The 1-series hydrogen hybrid concept is powered by a 120hp 4 cylinder gas engine, hydrogen fuel, cell, electric motor, FWD and RWD!. The car operates on FWD on longer trips and RWD on shorter trips (RWD powered by electric motor). The fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, which recharges the batteries. The energy generated from braking will also be converted to electricity and stored for use.

The hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor will power the hydrogen 1-series in local city driving and the 4-cylinder gas engine will provide assistance for longer trips.

I'm not sure why you feel safe driving around with gasoline in a tank but not hydrogen? The explosive potential is there, too.

jeremyc74 is right about the economics of hydrogen production, though.