BMW H2R

Information

BMW H2R

In 2004, BMW unveiled the H2R to the public to show the potential of hydrogen in high-performance applications. The development and engineering were done under the direction of Dr. Raymond Freymann and took 10 months to complete. It was originally going to be a regular gas engine, but it was switched, so they modified a 6L V12 from the BMW 760i to allow it to run on hydrogen. The biggest modification was the fuel injection system, which featured integrated injection valves within the intake manifolds. All this allowed it to produce 232 hp with 285 lb/ft of torque, culminating in its top speed of 187.62 mph (302.4 kph).

BMW made the H2R lightweight using carbon fiber and an aluminum chassis, which weighed just 1560 kg (3437 lbs). The bodywork was made to be as aerodynamic as possible, with a drag coefficient of just .21. With all this, the H2R has a 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) of only 6.1 seconds. Along with being quick, the aerodynamics allow it to be stable at the high speeds needed to achieve the records they were searching for.

Due to hydrogen characteristics, many safety features were implemented for the driver's safety and the crew. A carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) was used to make a safety cell to protect the driver in case of an accident or emergency. A second CFRP was used for the cryogenic tank where the hydrogen was stored. The cryogenic tank kept the hydrogen in a liquid state by maintaining a temperature of -253oC (-423.4oF) to allow it to be used in the engine. To ensure smooth operation, they used specialized valves, and due to the difference between hydrogen combustion and gas combustion, they developed an air-cooling process for each of the 12 cylinders to prevent premature combustion of the hydrogen/air mixture. This was a concern because hydrogen combusts at a much higher temperature.

The BMW H2R was specially made to break records, and that's what it did. In September 2004, at the Miramas proving ground in France, it broke 9 records, which were:
1. Flying-start kilometer: 11.99 sec 187.62 mph (301.94 kph)
2. Flying-start mile: 19.91 sec 181.85 mph (292.65 kph)
3. Standing-start 1/8 kilometer: 9.92 sec 45.62 mph (73.41 kph)
4. Standing-start 1/4 kilometer: 14.93 sec 60.62 mph (97.55 kph)
5. Standing-start 1/2 mile: 17.27 sec 65.15 mph (104.84 kph)
6. Standing-start mile: 36.73 sec 98.60 mph (158.68 kph)
7. Standing-start 10 miles: 221.05 sec 163.81 mph (263.62 kph)
8. Standing-start kilometer: 26.56 sec 84.72 mph (136.34 kph)
9. Standing-start 10 kilometers: 146.41 sec 153.90 mph (247.67 kph)

The BMW H2R is kept in the BMW Group Classic vehicle collection