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.March 31, 2004
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This Week:

• Lexus to Unveil Sports Coupe Concept Vehicle at New York Auto Show

• Chevrolet Unveils Impala Indy SS

• Fuel Cell Provides Energy For BMW Group's The Hague

• Top 10 Auto Trends at the New York Auto Show

• Jaguar Adds Safety, Luxury Options To Further Customize 2004 X-TYPE

• Fitness Bikes from Mercedes-Benz

• Mazda To Invest Nearly 14 Billion Yen In New Digital Technology For Future Product Development

• Touareg 360° experience: one of the last big adventures begins

• Toyota Raises First Steel Column On $15 Million Expansion At North American Manufacturing Headquarters

• Honda's Cumulative Motorcycle Production in Thailand Reaches 10 Million Units

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Fuel Cell Provides Energy For BMW Group's The Hague
 

The Hague / Munich - The BMW Group is the world's first automobile manufacturer to utilize a fuel cell for energy supply with its European retail subsidiary, The Hague. The aim is to conserve energy and avoid carbon dioxide emissions. The test operation of the system, supplied by the heating technology company Vaillant, will demonstrate the potential of the fuel cell for power and heat supply for stationary applications. The use of the fuel cell is part of the BMW Group strategy to put energy supply in dealerships on a sustainable basis. The energy of the fuel cell in The Hague will be used to generate power and heat. Additional implementation of the car wash, paintshop and air conditioning is planned.

The system installed in the BMW retail subsidiary has a rated electrical output of 4.6 kilowatts, and it also has a heat output of 7.0 kilowatts due to its power-heat coupling. The fuel cell runs on hydrogen, generated in the reformer from natural gas. Results will be available after a 12-month test phase. If the test run is successful, the BMW Group plans to use this technology at other locations. The project is being supported by the European Commission as part of the fifth general research program.

The BMW Group is also working on the production launch of fuel cells as auxiliary power units in cars. However, because of dynamic performance and cost, there are no plans to use them as propulsion units. Here, the BMW Group favors the internal combustion engine, since it can run on either gasoline or hydrogen.

(March 29, 2004)