Why BMW is betting on hydrogen fuel cell powertrains

[Caribbeans]

Why BMW is betting on hydrogen fuel cell powertrains

Despite earlier using hydrogen to power internal combustion engines, BMW is turning to fuel cells for its first hydrogen production car, due in 2028.

Automotive News | Peter Sigal | September 29, 2024

BMW has committed to building a series production hydrogen fuel cell car, even as other automakers focus on using hydrogen to fuel internal combustion engine vehicles.

The automaker said Sept. 5 that it would launch the fuel cell vehicle in 2028, working with Toyota to develop a "next-generation" powertrain using that company's fuel cells. BMW has not said which car will get the technology, but it has been testing iX5 crossovers with fuel cells in 20 countries and producing the model on a limited basis at its factory in Munich.

The hydrogen drivetrain could be an option for a vehicle built on the coming Neue Klasse electric-only architecture. Michael Rath, vice president of hydrogen vehicles at BMW, said the Neue Klasse underpinnings are well suited for fuel cells.



Rath said that on an individual "well-to-wheel" basis, "it's a fact that BEVs are more efficient." But, he argues, a wider view of an EV's life cycle that accounts for raw materials, production and even recycling shows that fuel cells and BEVs have "comparable footprints."...more
https://www.autonews.com/technology/bmw-joins-toyota-hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-plans

BMW VP: Hydrogen Stations "Not Rocket Science" - our uptimes & reliability numbers way higher than California

[mitch96]

1. Because they blew it with all electric cars?..nt

[Think. Again.]

3. These are all-electric cars...

...but instead of storing the electricity in batteries, they make the electricity on demand with a fuel cell using H2.

[Bristlecone]

4. They have a pretty big line of electric

I see them everywhere also.

[Think. Again.]

2. I think that's the most promising aspect of H2 as a fuel...

...it's versatile in the ways it can be used, either as an electricity generator through fuel cells to power electric motors and such, or even as non-CO2 emitting combustion fuel for combustion engines.

I read about one farm/heavy equipment manufacturer in the UK that is very easily adapting their diesel engines to burn H2 and therefore offering a full line of H2 powered equipment without having to make any major changes to the design or manufacturing of their existing equipment line.

[NNadir]

5. Of course they are, because Germans are unafraid of dirty energy, or for that matter, dirty chemicals.

Last edited Mon Sep 30, 2024, 08:29 AM - Edit history (1)

It is notable however, that BASF shut ammonia plants in Germany because Germany's pal Putin cut off their supply of dangerous natural gas which they used to make hydrogen for the reduction of nitrogen to synthesize ammonia.

Chemicals producer BASF to axe jobs at energy intensive production sites in Germany

BASF is the owner of gas producer Wintershall DEA, which incurred heavy losses due to its involvement in the now defunct Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was planned to connect Germany with Russia. The highly controversial project was suspended shortly before its completion due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Wintershall DEA had to write off large parts of its business activities in Russia.

Germany shut it's nuclear plants to burn coal, and it is unsurprising therefore that they are unafraid of fossil fuel dependency, as evidenced by having routinely high carbon intensity for their electricity, of 400 grams CO₂/kWh in 2023. In "percent talk" used by the solar and wind industry, like hydrogen another lipstick on the fossil fuel pig, another "bait and switch" scam, antinuke Germany was 755% higher than nuclear powered France, which came in at 53 grams CO₂/kWh in 2023



Electricity Map

And of course, what they don't teach in the marketing department in the fossil fuel sales training to run the rebranding of fossil fuels as hydrogen, is the chemical implications of hydrogen fuel cells, which are dependent on precious metals and the highly fluorinated polymer Nalfion, a member of the class of fluoridated organics that have caused a huge environmental problem because of their environmental persistence. You certainly wouldn't want your sales staff to understand the reality of fuel cells, particularly because they are so pernicious. What one doesn't know, won't hurt one's sales goals, although in this case, it will hurt everyone on the planet.

Elizabeth Salako, Matthew Thompson, Rong Jiang, Yong Gao, Synthesis of proton-conductive Perfluoro(Benzylphosphonic Acid)s via polymer side chain phosphorylation, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, Volume 277, 2024, 110312

If there is any nation on Earth that has demonstrated contempt for climate and environmental issues, Germany is one.