Hydrogen Engines

[ulli]

Yesterday I came across a photo of a very complex-looking hydrogen engine that BMW have developed.

And today I received the news of what JCB have produced in the field of hydrogen technology, and that last month they got the green light from EU member governments to go ahead with mass production.

And I have to admit that although I have met some amazing people in my life, none made me feel as proud as knowing Lord Anthony Bamford, the owner and Chairman of JCB.
What an amazing feat.

https://drivinghydrogen.com/2025/01/...across-europe/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwfvQ..._web_copy_link

https://youtube.com/shorts/g8ovgjLpu...07l4aIGF57ZWiZ

[rgray222]

I have always believed that hydrogen should be the engine makers first choice. It may be a bit more expensive on the developmental front end, but the benefits are enormous once the technology becomes mainstream.

The benefits of hydrogen are;

• Zero emissions
• Quick refueling
• Great range
• Great scalability
• Renewable
• Also, hydrogen engines are supposed to be exceptionally dependable and have great perfomance

BMW plans to bring its first hydrogen car onto the market from 2028



(Reuters) - BMW (BMWG.DE), opens new tab aims to bring its first hydrogen-powered vehicle onto the market in 2028, using fuel cell technology developed with Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), opens new tab, the German carmaker said on Thursday.

The company said the vehicle would be an existing model with a hydrogen fuel cell drive option, without giving further details. It also did not give details on price or production volume.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said in a statement the vehicle would "highlight how technological progress is shaping the mobility of the future".

Its partnership with Toyota will allow the groups to cut costs and to develop a passenger car drive unit whose technology will also have applications for commercial vehicles, they said.

BMW is by far the strongest proponent of hydrogen technology among German carmakers, and has been testing a hydrogen passenger vehicle, the iX5 Hydrogen, with a range of 500 km (310 miles) and an ability to refuel in three to four minutes.
The group is developing fuel cell vehicle prototypes alongside battery ones to hedge its bets depending on which "green" technology becomes dominant.

A fuel cell vehicle uses an electric motor like an EV, but draws power from a fuel stack where hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles can refuel quickly and have a long range, but few carmakers have invested in the technology because of high costs and a limited network of fuelling stations.

BMW said it assumed hydrogen charging infrastructure would have developed significantly by 2028 to accommodate its plans.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/aut...28-2024-09-05/

[shaberon]

Yes...we posted Hydrail as a mass transit system being deployed in China. A few posts down is the history of the combustion engine. Hint: it doesn't run on gasoline.

There is a "competition" taking place by Los Angeles Port Authority to compare hydrogen vs. batteries on cargo trucks. I'm not a fan of batteries. Hydrogen basically is a battery, and the main obstacle has generally been its cost-effectiveness at scale. More of a financial concern than a physical one.