BMW presents new hydrogen-powered race car

BMW developed a supercar H2R, which is capable of developing the speed of 300 kilometers per hour. The car's engine is powered by hydrogen and produces no toxic emission. The new car has already set nine word records for pollution-free vehicles.

Engineers of BMW Forschung und Technik equipped the car with the most powerful of the company's series engines - the 12-cylinder 6-liter engine from BMW 760. The 285-hp engine has been adjusted to hydrogen fuel.

German specialists had to redesign the injection system and cylinders of the engine to make it work on hydrogen. According to German technicians, hydrogen can be more efficient fuel than petrol as it allows a higher compression. However, the same 6l engine produces the power of 445 hp, if it is powered on petrol.

Nevertheless, the excellent aerodynamics of BMW H2R helped the race car set nine world records in Mirimas, France, as the car reached 302 km/h.

Spokespeople for BMW said that the creation of the hydrogen-powered race car was a big step forward for the German trademark in launching the series production of hybrid-powered cars. H2R race car was developed only for ten months. The series production of H2R will not be started, although it is not ruled out that BMW will soon present a hybrid 7-series model, outfitted with a high-performance engine powered on both petrol and hydrogen.