BMW’s much anticipated hydrogen hybrid vehicle has been spied, which is believed to be undergoing testing. The system combines a conventional front-drive powertrain along with a hydrogen fuel cell, supercapacitors and an electrically driven rear axle. The technology will allow the vehicle to travel emissions-free in city centers.
The fuel-cell hybrid has not yet been given the green light by the company as certainty of sufficient sales will be the decisive factor. The prototype gets powered by a conventional transverse Mini drivetrain for the front wheels and an APU, a slim fuel cell that churns out 5KW.
Power generated by the APUs will be supplied to the supercapacitors, which are mounted in the central tunnel. These drive the 82KW electric motor on the rear axle. When in electric mode the car is driven by the rear wheels and when in petrol mode the vehicle is propelled by the front wheels. The two powerplants can work together, though, to deliver short bursts of high acceleration.
