BMW's Head of Government and Industrial Affairs, John Hollis, handed over the BMW Hydrogen 7 for the use of the Deputy Mayor. Hydrogen is an efficient and clean form of power supply resulting in only water vapour exiting the exhaust. The car is part of BMW's initiative to encourage debate around the role of hydrogen in the economy.  For the next two months, cars will be evaluated in the UK by business leaders and opinion formers.

John Hollis said: “BMW is a pioneer in the development and use of hydrogen as a fuel source and shares the vision of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor that London should be one of the world centres for Hydrogen. In recognition of the work the Mayor's Office has done in this field, BMW would like it to be the first public organisation in the country to have the use of a Hydrogen 7 car.”

Deputy London Mayor, Nicky Gavron, said: “I am committed to improving the health and quality of life of Londoners through the use of cleaner technologies such as hydrogen vehicles which reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. I am pleased to have this opportunity to try out the BMW Hydrogen 7 car. As the Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership, I want to encourage the use of hydrogen vehicles that emit only water vapour and no harmful emissions, but I also want to be able to talk with first hand experience about these vehicles. I am pleased that BMW has given me this opportunity.”

The Deputy Mayor used the car to go to an event at the Royal Festival Hall on Monday, 11th June. The Deputy Mayor uses public transport wherever possible and on World Environment Day welcomed the Brighton to London eco car rally, an event to showcase vehicles using future fuels and technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid vehicles into Trafalgar Square.

The London Hydrogen Partnership is working together towards a hydrogen economy for London and the UK. It is chaired by the Deputy Mayor of London, and its members include: Air Products, Association of London Government, Baxi Group, BMW, BOC, BP, Carbon Trust, DTI, Energy Saving Trust, Greater London Authority, Health and Safety Executive, Imperial College, Intelligent Energy, Johnson Matthey, London Development Agency, London First, Rolls-Royce, Thames Water and Transport for London. 

The BMW Hydrogen 7 in detail

The BMW Hydrogen 7 is based on the existing 7 Series and comes equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on hydrogen or petrol. In hydrogen mode the car emits nothing more than water vapour. Powered by a 260hp 12-cylinder engine, the Hydrogen 7 accelerates from zero to 62mph in 9.5 seconds before going on to an electronically-limited 143mph top speed.

With its unique dual power engine, the driver of a Hydrogen 7 can switch quickly and conveniently from hydrogen to conventional petrol power at the press of a steering wheel-mounted button. The dual power technology means the car has a cruising range in excess of 125 miles in the hydrogen mode with a further 300 miles under petrol power. To make this possible the BMW Hydrogen 7 comes with a conventional 74-litre petrol tank and an additional hydrogen fuel tank holding up to 8kgs of liquid hydrogen. Such flexibility means the driver of a BMW Hydrogen 7 is able to use the vehicle at all times, even when the nearest hydrogen filling station is out of range. A filling station has been developed in Wembley to support BMW’s plans.

Unlike many previous hydrogen concept cars showcased by rival manufacturers the BMW Hydrogen 7 heralds a milestone in the history of the car. It is a full production ready vehicle, which has met all the stringent processes and final sign-off criteria that every current BMW model undergoes.

100 Hydrogen 7 cars have been built for worldwide evaluation with six cars in the UK over the summer.