Hydrogen 7

[mrkbbd]

Today I was leaving a golf course in Maryland and when I walked outside I looked into the parking lot and there was a Hydrogen 7 (sorry no pics, but it was the space grey color with the blue hydrogen on the side and it said "Hydrogen 7" where it normally says 760Li). I started telling my golfing partners about it and walking around it when the owner of it walked outside, perfect timing. Apparently here in DC the BMW dealers have a fleet of them and will allow a weekend drive (and there are 2 hydrogen stations here) if you know the right people. Anyways he let opened it up and let me look inside and told me that it drives exactly like a normal 7 series that runs on both gas and hydrogen (there is a button that says H2 on the steering wheel to change from hydrogen to gas power) anyways he started it up in Hydrogen mode, it's a little strange experience because it takes it about 15 seconds of spinning the starter before it starts. He let it run for a little and under the exhaust there was a visible puddle of water, it was quite a new experience. The only problem with it is the exhaust system...it has a horrible sound, it sounds like it has no power, even though with the V12 it definitely does. I hope the distribution network is going to improve because I would definitely want to have one of these in my driveway.

[Wagner]

Michelle a couple others and I have driven it. There wasn't any lag I heard of when starting it up and on the road the power, to me, was seamless (although some thought they felt a difference. The switch over from hydrogen to gas on the fly is amazing.

[mrkbbd]

Wagner, do you just call the BMW dealer to try and get a test drive, or is there some other process...and I think it was b/c it was started in Hydrogen mode specifically, not gas mode

[Wagner]

The one I drove started with H2 only, no lag.

You can't request a drive. You need to be at an event where they bring the H7 for test driving. We all test drove it at the Susan Kohen Ultimate Drive for the Cure.