BMW CleanEnergy in Sacramento

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News of April 03, 2002

BMW CleanEnergy in Sacramento

California's Winston Hickox favors hydrogen

Photo: BMW

Munich, Germany - The BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002 began on March 19th in California and was attended and supported by high-ranking guests from the world of politics, business and science. At the event in the state capital, Sacramento, representatives of the BMW Group and the State Government of California discussed the future of hydrogen, which is viewed as the sustainable energy source of the future worldwide. The event was also attended by Winston Hickox, Head of the Californian Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

Hydrogen will ensure mobility in the future

In his statement at the event, Hickox referred to the BMW activities in California: "Today marks the eighth month since the BMW hydrogen powered vehicles were placed in operation in California. These vehicles, which use hydrogen in both the engine and the auxiliary fuel cell unit, demonstrate the capability of hydrogen to meet our transportation needs in an environmentally friendly manner. BMW should be commended for its efforts to develop and market advanced-technology hydrogen vehicles."

Alliances are decisive for the promotion of hydrogen

The aim of the CleanEnergy World Tour around the globe is above all to forge new alliances dedicated to introducing hydrogen. Alan Lloyd, Head of the California Air Resources Board stated before the Auditorium in the Capitol of Sacramento: "We have only been successful, because the industry responded in spades. They have always done things more efficiently, at less cost and mostly sooner than we expected, and of course the BMW Group was classical to that part of it." Prior to the event he had met with BMW managers and a number of politicians and decision-makers to exchange ideas about the hydrogen future.

Technical and political workshops in conjunction with partner companies

With the BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002, BMW is once again dedicating itself to introducing hydrogen as the fuel of the future worldwide. Christoph Huss, Head of Science and Transport Politics of the BMW Groups states in this respect: "If the challenges of saving resources in a sustainable way, of ensuring an independent energy supply and of reducing greenhouse emissions are to be taken seriously, then we already have to make preparations regarding the availability of hydrogen in the transport sector today. Only then can we expect hydrogen fuel to be implemented during the next decade". Not only the start event but the entire BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002 is directed at the decision-makers from the world of science, technology and politics. The BMW Group presents facts and concepts for the introduction of hydrogen in technical and political workshops and cooperates very closely with partner companies such as the energy supplier bp and the infrastructure specialist Linde. Rolf Trill, attending the event in Sacramento on behalf of Linde Gas AG, said in Sacramento: "At this moment in time already, hydrogen is one of our most important products. We are sure that hydrogen will take the place of fossil energy sources. We have not doubts that hydrogen will dominate the energy market."

The BMW 750hL fleet has already completed tests and trials in California

Nearly one year ago the BMW Group moved a part of its hydrogen fleet of 15 BMW 750hLs to California to the Engineering and Emission Test Center (EETC) in Oxnard. The twelve-cylinder sedans serve on the one hand for technical testing in the area of Los Angeles and on the other for demonstration purposes. Engineers and scientists, politicians and decision-makers use them to learn about all the benefits of BMW hydrogen technology. Dr. Burkhard Göschel, Head of Development and Purchasing of the BMW Group: " In California we can explain our strategy effectively because here ecology and energy are firmly anchored in the public and political consciousness." The BMW Group is placing its bets on hydrogen as the fuel of the future in the long term and is already developing the first hydrogen vehicle with internal combustion engine for series development. Since June 2001 the hydrogen-powered twelve-cylinder BMW 7 Series sedans have been rolling through the Southwest of the USA. The cars impressively prove that the comfort and superior performance of the internal combustion engine are not contradictory to ecology and the climate protection targets laid down in the Kyoto protocol. The comfortable test cars have covered more than 25,000 kilometres mainly on the roads of California - without any defects. They were definitely not treated gently: excursions to hell-hot Death Valley were mastered without any faults as well as trips through the Los Angeles rush hour. Overall the BMW hydrogen fleet has now covered more than 170,000 kilometres (105,656 miles) worldwide proving that hydrogen cars powered by internal combustion engines are technically feasible.

Hydrogen with high market potential

Dr. Bernd Gebler, responsible for series development of hydrogen cars at the BMW Group, provided the timeline during his statement in Sacramento: "during the production cycle of the new 7 series, we will present a series version of the hydrogen car. With the bivalent driving mode we will provide a pragmatic solution allowing the customer to run his or her car either on hydrogen or petrol. Our customers will be able to drive a CO2-emission free car in the near future."

(March 28, 2002)

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